Written answer
Third Level Fees
The Minister said the “Second Chance” free-fees provision was not delivered in Budget 2026, while reducing the student contribution by €500 and considering further supports.
4077. 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 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 will make a statement on the matter. [62607/26]
Comment on this
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government (PfG) contains several commitments which are intended to reduce the financial burden on students and their families. One of these commitments relates to a ‘Second Chance’ option for students undertaking a repeat year of study or changing courses.
The commitments in the PfG are intended to be progressed over the lifetime of this Government. While it was not possible to progress this commitment in Budget 2026, I was able to progress other commitments that have helped reduce the cost of education for students.
In my first budget as Minister for Higher Education, I delivered on a commitment to reduce the student contribution fee. I have reduced the student contribution by €500, and I did so in a manner that is financially sustainable. This flat-rate reduction lowered the Student Contribution Fee from €3,000 to €2,500, representing the first permanent reduction since the Free Fees Initiative was introduced in 1995.
As part of Budget 2027 I will consider all options to make further improvements to student supports, such as the student contribution, SUSI grants, student assistance fund, mental health and disability supports, apprenticeship funding and many other areas.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot confirm specific measures that may be included in Budget 2027 or subsequent budgets. While the recent Government decision to levy Departments to cover expenditure pressures in the Department of Education may limit the options available to me in this year's budget, it will not diminish my resolve to deliver for students and their families.