Questions

7. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will clarify the rationale behind the decision not to proceed with further reductions in the student contribution fee, in light of the Programme for Government commitment to reduce these fees over the lifetime of the Government; the reason that prompted this change in policy direction; and if he will m…

39. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for an update on the implementation of a ‘Second Chance’ provision, to ensure that students undertaking a repeat year or changing courses once can still access the free fees initiative, thereby avoiding financial penalties through higher fee rates, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he wil…

47. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the third level fee supports that exist for graduate medical students who have attended third level college in Ireland; if none are in place, his future plans for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25997/25]

53. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider reviewing course fees for third level courses, for example, nursing, based on the hours of work placement being completed versus the hours spent in the college facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26356/25]

60. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps he is taking to reduce the financial hardship of the contribution fee for third level Universities. [25805/25]

931. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of beneficiaries of temporary protection who availed of the temporary tuition fee support scheme in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; the cost of the scheme in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25798/25]

933. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for details on the revenue generated by third level fees, from 2020 to date in 2025, correlated and broken down by year, in tabular form. [26023/25]

934. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the estimated full-year cost of reducing contribution fees by €1,500 in year one, by €1,500 in year two, with an overall reduction of €3,000 over two years, by year, in tabular form. [26024/25]

935. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the estimated full cost of extending the 'fund for students ' with a disability (FSD) across all further education and training FET courses, over two years, by year in tabular form. [26025/25]

936. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for the estimated full cost of extending SUSI to postgraduate fees for qualifying students over two years, by year, in tabular form. [26026/25]

1222. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if an Irish citizen, who completed their second-level education abroad, in a non-EU country, who plans to return and pursue their third-level education in Ireland, will be eligible for the free fees initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24342/25]

1238. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of reducing all international fees by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23578/25]

2500. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Ukrainian students who were included in the free fee scheme in the year 2023 and 2024, and the cost of funding related to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18909/25]

2540. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to completely abolish the student contribution charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/25]

2546. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to abolish all postgraduate fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19770/25]

2561. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide an update on his plans to review the financial supports available for the 1,255 third level students from Ukraine studying in Ireland; for an update on tuition fees being paid by his Department through the temporary tuition fee support scheme, which was implemented at the beginning of…

2562. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the costs towards the temporary tuition fee support scheme for 2025 (details supplied); the length of time his Department will be paying for this temporary scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20182/25]

2563. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of Ukrainian students on the temporary tuition fee support scheme for 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20183/25]

836. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the need to create a student finance model that would provide interest free loans to students that do not qualify for SUSI grants, to support the associated costs of attending third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15182/25]

2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science following the reduction to higher education student fees, if he will provide assurance that student fees will not rise again in the future; if he is considering fully abolishing further and higher education student fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14941/25]

5. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans for the contributory fee; if he will maintain the cut in the fee, as has been set out in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14866/25]

13. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given the programme for Government commitment to "continue to reduce the Student Contribution Fee over the lifetime of the Government to ease the financial burden on students and families at the start of each academic year, in a financially sustainable manner", to outline his Department's plans to reduce the …

38. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm that higher level education funding can continue to be increased while fulfilling the Programme for Government commitment to continue to reduce the student contribution fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14530/25]

49. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his Department's plans to keep the reduction in student capitation. [14648/25]

50. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the third level fee supports that exist for graduate medicine students attending third level college in Ireland; if none are in place, to outline plans for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14503/25]