Questions

888. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated total student contributions paid by all higher education students in 2024 and 2025; the expected contributions in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51352/26]

934. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the proposed student assistance fund pilot placement project which is currently in draft stage and due to be rolled out in 2026-2027 to support students. [49036/26]

239. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has data on the average distance travelled by students to their further or higher educational institution. [46115/26]

795. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students undertaking a university degree (details supplied) that is fully delivered online are not receiving the €500 reduction in the student contribution, while students who do the exact same programme on campus do receive the €500 reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3…

207. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to update the SUSI grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34829/26]

3463. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the targeted measures his Department is taking to support lone parents in re-entering education; to outline his engagements with other government departments to facilitate same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24978/26]

3468. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports that can be made available to students who have come here fleeing the war in Ukraine and who are in the guardianship of their grandparents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25186/26]

2124. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will work with higher education providers to standardise postgraduate fees across the higher education sector. [58625/25]

2134. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his intention to decrease the age where parental income is taken into account to access SUSI grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59066/25]

2135. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the stipulation that those over the age of 23 living at home have their parents' income taken into account to get access to the SUSI grant. [59067/25]

2142. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason a parent's income is included in calculations of household income for the purposes of determining eligibility for SUSI where a student, or applicant for studies, is over the age of 23 and not considered a dependent child according to the Family Law Act 1995 as revised. [59147/25]

2143. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the financial supports which are available to students who hold a level 6 qualification and intend to commence another level 6 course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59161/25]

2147. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider expanding the definition of student from a lone parent family in the student assistance fund priority groups to encompass students who were raised by a single parent who is no longer raising any children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59559/25]

2149. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to consider expanding the criteria for the Student Assistance Fund by redefining the priority groups to include those who come from lone parent families with low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59683/25]

1428. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the full economic cost of the graduate education medicine programme; the fees charged to students; the financial supports available to those students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48898/25]

1430. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason students and their families are expected to pay the full student contribution charge if they are on an internship year, and not utilising college facilities or in receipt of teaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49050/25]

3375. 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 will 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. [42401/25]

3376. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if any comparative analysis has been done by his Department into the availability of State-backed low-interest loans, provided by other EU countries, to support students to afford expenses related to attending third level institutions separate to specific fees for their course; and if he will make a statement…

3400. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the grants or supports available to students completing their third level college course in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43018/25]

1648. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being considered to provide greater financial supports for PAYE families who are just above the threshold for SUSI grants and are bearing significant higher education costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29294/25]

2503. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his proposals regarding implementing a reduction in the student contribution fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18956/25]

2511. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the income threshold for the student contribution is being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19253/25]

2534. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will clarify recent reports that there will be no further reductions to student fees; if this represents a departure from the commitment in the Programme for Government to reduce the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government; the rationale for this shift; and if he will make a sta…

2536. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost to restore the adjacency grant rate to 24 km rather than the current 30km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19752/25]

855. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to comment on recent suggestions that there will be no further reductions in student fees, which contrasts with the commitment to reduce the student contribution fee over the lifetime of the Government in the Programme for Government; if he can give reassurances that this commitment remains a priority; and…