Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
901. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount allocated for the reduction of the student contribution in Budget 2026; and the amount that was allocated for reduction of the student contribution in 2025. [56936/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2026, I am introducing a permanent reduction of €500 in the Student Contribution charge for the current academic year. This flat rate reduction will reduce the rate from €3,000 to €2,500.
This is the first permanent cut since free fees were introduced in 1995. It will benefit around 108,000 undergraduate students and 14,000 apprentices, who will see up to a 17% pro-rata reduction.
The Deputy will be aware that I published An Annual Options Paper on Reducing the Cost of Educationin September. Details of various costed options are included in this paper, including the cost of permanently reducing the student contribution by €500. This paper estimated the net cost of this Budget 2026 measure at €52.9m. This is the net cost after allowing for savings that will accrue on the SUSI grant scheme. The pro rata reduction for apprentices is estimated to cost a further €2.5m.
Funding was not provided to my Department to reduce the student contribution in 2025. However, funding was provided, via the supplementary estimates process, to apply a temporary cost of living reduction in 2024 for the academic year 2024/25. The net cost of the temporary student contribution reduction in Budget 2025 was estimated to be €99m. This was the net cost after allowing for savings that would accrue on the SUSI grant scheme. The pro rata temporary reduction for apprentices was estimated to cost a further €4.7m.
