Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
172. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline the cost of third level fees in each of the years 2024, 2025, 2026; if he intends to reduce fees; and the timeframe in which such will be delivered. [34826/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government (PfG) addresses the cost of college in a balanced way by combining both universal and targeted measures. The PfG commits to incrementally reducing student contribution fees as well as increasing SUSI grants, providing additional supports for specific cohorts, as well as providing more pathways into and through higher education. The PfG explicitly states that this must be done in a financially sustainable manner.
In considering the matters raised, I am conscious that the Deputy has raised similar queries with me in recent weeks. In my responses I highlighted how the institutions themselves have responsibility for maintaining their overall tuition fee rates and that fee schedules are available from the institutions.
In that context I will expand upon funding supports for students and in particular the Free Fees Initiative. As the Deputy is aware, first-time students undertaking a full-time undergraduate course may be eligible to have their tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, paid on their behalf via the Free Fees Initiative.
In 2024/25, the cost of administering the Free Fees Initiative and related student supports was €628m. This can be broken down as follows:
• Free fees funding to higher education institutions (€380.2 million),
• SUSI student contribution grants at the temporary reduced rates (€101.2 million), and
• A temporary cost-of-living reduction of €1,000, which was applied to the then student contribution charge of €3,000 (€147.1 million).
The Programme for Government commits to reducing the student contribution fee in a financially sustainable manner over the lifetime of this Government. As part of Budget 2026 I delivered an immediate and permanent reduction of €500 to the Student Contribution fee paid by students. This flat rate reduction has reduced the fee from €3,000 to €2,500 in the current academic year. It is the first permanent reduction since the Free Fees Initiative was introduced in 1995.
Cost-of-Living measures in Budgets 2023, 2024 and 2025 provided for temporary student contribution reductions that reduced the €3,000 student contribution down to €2,000 in the academic years 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25.
These represented once off temporary interventions which were subject to supplementary funding each Budget in the form of a cost-of-living package. Previous temporary measures, whilst providing welcome relief for students and their families, remained uncertain from year to year. By implementing a permanent reduction, I have provided certainty for students on the student contribution for those who pay it.
The student contribution sits within the overall student support framework and as part of the annual budget process. While I cannot confirm specific items that will be included in the next Budget, I can assure the Deputy that, subject to available resources, options to support students and reduce financial barriers will be a key consideration for me as part of Budget negotiations.
