Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
527. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the unfair decision to exclude students studying outside this State from the €1,000 reduction in student contribution fees which was introduced to support households to ease the cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56201/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These cost of living measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students that are eligible for the free fees initiative (FFI), a scheme which operates within the State.
Under the Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the State provides funding, exclusive of the student contribution, toward the tuition fee costs of eligible undergraduate higher education students who are pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of study in an approved higher education institution in the State. The student contribution only applies in circumstances where a student is eligible for free fees, it is the students’ contribution towards their tuition fee within the terms of the FFI.
Courses provided outside of the State are not approved courses under the FFI as the student contribution arrangements do not apply outside of the State. Therefore, it is not possible for students undertaking study outside of the State to benefit from this measure.
