Publication
Funding the Future - An annual options paper on the cost of higher education
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
In May 2022, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science published its policy on the future of third level education in Ireland.
The Funding our Future policy confirmed the Government’s intention to increase the funding given to third level institutions and to reduce the cost of education.
The policy committed to developing an annual options assessment outlining measures to reduce the cost of education. Last year’s paper focussed in the main on measures around the Student Grant Scheme and student contribution.
This year the Minister has expanded this paper to include options on cost reduction across Further & Higher Education, Research and Apprenticeships. The paper also provides an overview of ongoing work in relation to Student Accommodation.
An in-person Stakeholder Event was held for the first time on 25th May 2023 in Dublin. The event was attended by representatives of the student population, access officers and student services employees together with groups representing students who are underrepresented in education.
The event helped to inform the Department’s options paper on reducing the cost of higher education for all students.
This was an opportunity for students, student representatives, people who work with students on a day-to-day basis and organisations who advocate for underrepresented groups to have their say on what should be included in the annual options paper.
The event was attended by over 100 people and significant feedback was provided to the Department.
Some of the issues raised at the cost of living event included calls for:
- Increased income thresholds and rates for the student grant scheme administered by SUSI
- An examination on the rules of estrangement and Independence/Dependence for the student grant scheme
- The holiday earnings deduction under the student grant scheme to be extended for the entire duration of the year
- More support for graduate entry medicine students
- Continuation of recent Student Assistance Fund increases.
- Reduction/removal of the student contribution
- Supports for more flexible forms of learning, especially for students with a disability
- Measures to reduce the cost of accommodation
- Measures to provide security of tenure to students in digs
- More supports for apprenticeships including towards tools, transport & accommodation costs.
- Increased supports for PHD students.
This options assessment is intended to identify costs and potential impacts, by the Department and is published without prejudice to eventual Government decisions.
Estimate costings are provided for each individual option, however, should two or more options be actioned, this may lead to an increase in demand and accordingly costs.
The paper is broken down into eight sections:
This relates to the Student Grant Scheme and the costs and impacts associated with making changes to the scheme to address the cost of going to college for students and their families.
This relates to options in respect of the Student Contribution and other schemes that the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has budgetary responsibility for.
This relates to the cost of providing a contribution toward Graduate Entry Medicine fees.
This relates to the cost for learners entering further education.
This relates to providing targeted supports to apprentices while they are on an off-the-job training phase.
This relates to examining a range of measures to assist students with the cost of accommodation
This relates to stipends and scholarships for PhD students
This relates to looking at introducing supports for more flexible forms of learning.
