Written Answers Nos. 390-395
390. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost in 2026 of abolishing apprenticeship fees from January 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11047/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of financial challenges facing learners and the need for the progressive implementation of measures to address costs as a barrier to attending tertiary education. It is a priority for me to explore the most effective and sustainable ways to support learners in managing these costs.
It is important to note that there are no fees for undertaking a national apprenticeship programme. However, a student contribution fee is paid by apprentices when attending Higher Education Institutions, with the fee rate aligned to the student contribution payable by undergraduate student eligible for the free fees initiative. As part of Budget 2026, I announced a permanent reduction in the free fees initiative Student Contribution charge. This flat rate reduction has reduced the rate from €3,000 to €2,500 for undergraduate students eligible for the free fees initiative and, applied on a pro rata basis, has lowered the student contribution by 17% for apprentices attending Higher Education. In regard to apprentices, €2.5 million was allocated for this purpose and, over the 2025/26 academic year, this will benefit approximately 14,000 apprentices.
As part of Budget 2026, it was important for me to make permanent, sustainable interventions which would give families and learners certainty. With this permanent measure I have done that. This is the first time the student contribution has been permanently reduced.
In terms of further adjustments, the potential cost of adjusting the student contribution may vary from year to year. My department published an Options Paper in 2025 where the potential costs of reducing the student contribution for apprentices in a single academic year were set out. In the paper it was estimated that removal of the student contribution payable by apprentices would have cost a total of €15,007,100 (this figure is inclusive of the €2.5 million previously referred to).
In advance of Budget 2027, and as my Department did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out the various possible measures to address the cost of education in a financially sustainable way. I will have regard to the various options considered in the paper in the context of the Estimates process.
391. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of increasing the SUSI grant by 10%. [11048/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very much aware that the rising cost of living continues?to impact students and their families. In Budget 2026 I implemented real, permanent changes to support students from all backgrounds and to reduce the cost of education.
From January 2026, in this academic year, all non-adjacent maintenance rates increased on a pro-rata basis for students whose primary residence is 30km or more from their institution. Eligible students will see a pro-rata increase to their grant rate ranging from €111- €239.
Also, in this academic year, the postgraduate fee contribution grant increased from €4,000 - €4,500.
From September 2026, all non-adjacent maintenance grants will increase for the 2026/2027 academic year as follows:
• The non-adjacent special rate of maintenance by €350;?
• The non-adjacent band 1 maintenance rate by €430; ?
• The non-adjacent bands 2-4 maintenance rates by €200.?
In addition, effective from September 2026, the income threshold for the special rate of maintenance grant threshold is increasing from €27,400 to €28,600 in line with Social Welfare increases and the €500 Student Contribution Grant income threshold is increasing from €115,000 to €120,000.
The Student Grant Scheme is a demand led scheme and costings each year are variable based on the number of successful applicants. Based on projected paid student numbers for 2025/2026, increasing all all adjacent and non-adjacent maintenance grant rates by 10% is estimated to cost approximately €21m for a full year. However, estimates are subject to change once paid applicants for 2025/2026 are finalised.
The Deputy will be aware, last year, I published an annual options paper which set out various possible measures to address the cost of education across the various sectors. I will publish this paper again this year which will inform decision making ahead of Budget 2027.
The options assessment is intended to identify costs and potential impacts by the Department and is published without prejudice to eventual Government decisions.
393. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the community services programme scheme is opening in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10661/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 445 services nationally via 426 community organisations to provide local social, economic, and environmental services through a social enterprise model with an allocation of €59.4m in 2026.
The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. The CSP contribution is not aligned with the minimum wage and is not intended to meet the full salary cost of supported posts. The contribution must be co-funded by other sources, for example, from income received from the public use of their facilities and services.
The CSP Programme currently provides funding towards 1,720 FTEs and 351 manager positions.
As you may be aware on 17 December last, Minister Calleary and I announced our intention to hold an open call for new organisations to join the CSP Programme in early 2026, in line with a Programme for Government commitment. The design of this open call is underway and details, including eligible community services and organisations, will be announced in the coming weeks.
In the interim, any organisation that wishes to be contacted when the Programme opens for new applicants, can provide contact details of a nominated point of contact to the email address csp@drcdg.gov.ie.
394. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta buiséad caipitil Údarás na Gaeltachta a chur i bhfoirm tábla do gach bliain ó 2008 go dtí anois. [10699/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá an fhaisnéis uile atá iarrtha ag an Teachta ar fáil sna Cuntais Leithreasa agus Meastacháin ábhartha mar a leagadh faoi bhráid thithe an Oireachtais iad gach uile bhhliain ó 2008 i leith.
395. D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ar fhorbairt bonneagair fheabhsaithe na cé ar Inis Meáin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [10928/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs é Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe atá freagrach as cothabháil agus forbairt na gcéanna ar na hOileáin Árann, Inis Meáin san áireamh.
Tuigim gur thug mo Roinn cead do Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe i mí na Nollag 2024 dul ar aghaidh le ceapachán innealtóirí comhairleacha - mar thoradh ar chomórtas oscailte soláthar poilbí - chun an Réamhchás Gnó, lena n-áirítear Measúnú Straitéiseach, a fhorbairt do roghanna feabhsúcháin infreastruchtúir mhara ar Inis Meáin.
Thug Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe le fios d'oifigigh na Roinne ag cruinniú i mí Eanáir 2026 go raibh na hinnealtóirí comhairleacha ag leanúint lena gcuid oibre ar an Measúnú Straitéiseach, agus go raibh anailís á déanamh acu ar an bhfadliosta roghanna don dá ché ar an oileán, Cé an Chóra agus Cé an Chalaidh Mhóir. Caithfear gach múnla agus rogha a thástáil agus a mheas chun theacht ar an gcur chuige is fearr ar mhaithe le bonneagar mara Inis Meáin a fheabhsú, lena n-áirítear an bonneagar a fhreastalaíonn ar na seirbhísí farantóireachta do phaisinéirí agus lastas.
