Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party)
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659. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of abolishing the contribution fee for apprenticeships in higher education in the 2024/2025 academic year. [22578/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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In advance of Budget 2025 this autumn, and as the previous Minister did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options on reducing the contribution fee for apprentices in higher education, when making proposals in the context of Budget discussions.

Based on current projected registrations for apprenticeship programmes, the HEA estimate the cost to abolish fees for apprentices attending higher education in 2024/25 to be circa €14 million. Cost estimates are subject to change and an update is expected to be published in the cost of education options paper.

In Budget 2023 €8m was allocated for a once-off reduction of 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices in higher education. Not all of the 2023 allocation was spent and in Budget 2024 €3.8m was allocated for a once-off reduction of 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices in higher education.