Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
1508. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on a matter (details supplied); if he can provide any further information on possible assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39126/26]
View answerI fully appreciate the significant financial pressures facing students and their families, particularly those about to enter Graduate Entry Medicine programmes. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to support students of Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM), and I have asked my officials to work with the Department of Health and the HEA on options which can provide assistance in a constructive way, with a focus on affordability, sustainability and the long-term medical workforce needs of the State.
Substantial State support is already provided for Graduate Entry Medicine. GEM programmes are graduate-entry by design, meaning students are undertaking a second degree, and as such they do not fall within the scope of the Free Fees Initiative, which is targeted at students pursuing an undergraduate degree for the first time. The Exchequer part-subsidises tuition fees for GEM places across all institutions, and recent Budget measures have significantly increased the value of this subsidy - rising from €11,950 per student in 2021/22 to €16,930 from 2026, representing approximately €13 million in annual public funding. This significantly reduces the costs faced by students, with the remaining fee levels determined by higher education institutions.
In addition, GEM students may access a range of existing supports, including the Student Assistance Fund, National Access Plan bursaries, tax relief on fees and rent, the Fund for Students with Disabilities where eligible, and the continued availability of the 1916 Bursary for eligible students progressing to GEM.
I have asked my officials to examine a range of potential future support models, including financial and incentive-based approaches. This includes considering how any future measures might support both affordability and the retention of graduates within the Irish public health system. No decisions have yet been taken, and any proposal would require careful consideration and budgetary approval.
