Funding the Future - An annual options paper on the cost of higher education 2024

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.

In 2022, the paper focussed in the main on measures around the Student Grant Scheme and student contribution.

In 2023, the paper was expanded to include options on cost reduction across Further & Higher Education, Research and Apprenticeships. The paper also provided an overview of ongoing work in relation to Student Accommodation.

To inform the Department’s 2024 options paper, and for the second year in a row, an in-person Stakeholder Event was held on 11th April 2024 in Portlaoise where approximately 130 people attended. In attendance were students, representatives of the student population, access officers, student services employees, people who work with students on a day-to-day basis and organisations who advocate for underrepresented students in education. It served as an opportunity for all to have their say on what should be included in this year’s annual options paper.

Several questions were put to attendees during the event.

Participants indicated that the most impactful measures in Budget 2024 were:

• Increase in income thresholds
• New pilot part-time free grant for specified undergraduate courses
• Once-off reduction in student contributions fees
• Increase/Restoration of maintenance grant rates
• Additional funds for Fund for Student with Disabilities

When asked what measure should be prioritised to reduce the cost of education the following were highlighted as the most significant by people:

• Student accommodation
• Transport
• Removal of fees
• More funding for students and
• Access support

The biggest challenges outlined to accessing education include:

• Finances
• Accommodation
• Transport, and
• Available funds

Other feedback included:

• Provision of accommodation supports for all students including Traveller & Roma
• Free travel for all students
• Remove the provision which limits the deduction of holiday earnings to “earnings outside of term time”
• Fees - Reduction in PLC fees/Abolish student contribution fees
• Funds - Continuation of recent Student Assistance Fund increases/Increase supports for Fund for Students with Disability
• Funding towards craft apprenticeship system
• Supports for students doing a repeat period of study
• Enhanced supports for compulsory trips where students incur additional related costs, i.e., equipment, materials, specific/specialised clothing, footwear etc.
• Expand supports for all FET students not just PLC
• Expansion of SUSI grants to offer additional funding or allow for additional income within the thresholds for students with disabilities
• Increase PhD stipend
• Additional bursary support for Apprenticeships
• More support for graduate entry medicine students and international students
• Increase in rent tax credit

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.

Where changes to the Student Grant Scheme are costed, these do not include costings for operation costs.

A quick access guide to costings is included at Appendix 1, however, this should be read in conjunction with the main commentary for assumptions.