Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
1246. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated additional cost incurred by students and their families in the 2025 academic year arising from the level of the student contribution fee prior to Budget 2026; whether his Department quantified this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9494/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1247. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the projected timeline and fiscal pathway by which his Department intends to meet the Programme for Government commitment to reduce the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government; whether further reductions are planned beyond Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9495/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1246 and 1247 together.
The Deputy may be aware that the Programme for Government contains several commitments which are aimed at reducing the cost of education for students and their families.
Ahead of Budget 2026, I published an Annual Options Paper on Reducing the Cost of Education. This paper presented a range of evidence-based policy options to inform decision making ahead of Budget 2026. The options identified costs and the potential impacts of various measures and was published without prejudice to the decisions subsequently made in Budget 2026. The Deputy can access this paper on-line at: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/cf68a0db/Funding_the_Future_-__Annual_Options_Paper_on_Reducing_the_Cost_of_Education2.pdf
Budget 2026 was my first opportunity since taking up office, to deliver on our Programme for Government commitments. It enabled me to deliver a number of important measures that will reduce the cost of education for students and their families. These include:
• A permanent €500 reduction in the student contribution fee. This is the first permanent reduction since free fees were introduced in 1995. Apprentices in higher education will also see an up to 17% cut to their contribution, applied on a pro-rata basis.
• The income threshold to receive a €500 SUSI student contribution grant will rise to €120,000 – the highest ever. This change will benefit thousands of additional undergraduate students.
• From September 2026, SUSI non-adjacent payments will rise by between €200 and €430, with a pro-rata increase this academic year. This measure will benefit the thousands of students who live 30km or more from their college campus with the cost of rent, travel, and day-to-day living.
• The SUSI postgraduate fee contribution grant is also rising from €4,000 to €4,500.
I have also secured an additional €1m in funding for mental health and healthy campus initiatives and a further €3m for measures to support students with disabilities.
These changes are meaningful steps toward a fairer, more affordable system and were cognisant of the need to support middle income families.
The Programme for Government commits to reducing the student contribution fee in a financially sustainable manner over the lifetime of this Government. The Deputy will appreciate it is not feasible at this time to provide an indication of measures that may be taken in Budget 2027 or subsequent budgets. However, I will continue to consider all options available to me to improve the overall student support framework and deliver on our Programme for Government commitments.
