By Erica Carter
The government is said to be looking at introducing a two-tier system to reduce fees for third-level students.
In the last three budgets, students have seen a 鈧1,000 reduction in their fees, but Higher Education Minister James Lawless confirmed last week that this would be discontinued in the upcoming budget.
In a new approach being considered by the government, fees would see one incremental universal cut and a second reduction for those in greater need or for families who have more children in university, the Irish Independent has reported.
As promised by the Programme for Government, the focus is on a permanent reduction of student contribution fees rather than a one-off cut. Ministers are also considering a second, more targeted reduction focused on those in receipt of the Susi (Student Universal Support Ireland) grant. This could also involve increasing the income threshold to qualify for the Student Contribution Fee Grant of 鈧500.
The Government is also examining whether a reduction in fees could be applied based on the number of family members attending university at the same time.
Recently, Further and Higher Education Minister James Lawless has said that with no plans for a cost of living package in Budget 2026, he will be unable to continue with the 鈧1,000 fee cut that students have seen in the last three budgets.
鈥淭he indications are that there won鈥檛 be a cost-of-living package this year, so all of us, in any walk of life, has to play the hands we鈥檙e dealt,” he said. 鈥淚f I don鈥檛 have a cost-of-living package, I can鈥檛 do those kind of measures that were done last year.鈥
鈥淔ees will reset, as with energy costs, as with the welfare system, as with every other means-tested payment across government, will revert to what it was before cost-of-living packages,鈥 he told RTE’s This Week.
鈥淚f there is no cost-of-living package, there鈥檚 no cost-of-living subsidy. If there鈥檚 no cost-of-living subsidy, rates revert to what they were before that.鈥
The update comes as applications are now open for grants of up to 鈧7,000 for students.
The Student Grant Scheme is the main financial support scheme for students studying full-time courses in Ireland and abroad. It is also known as the SUSI grant because Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is the awarding authority for the Student Grant Scheme.
Maintenance grants help students with their living costs. Fee grants pay tuition fees for students who do not qualify for the Free Fees Scheme. Fee grants can also pay the student contribution and the cost of essential field trips.
There have been some changes to the grant for the 2025/2026 academic year:
The first 鈧5,000 of any eligible scholarship or bursary will not be included in reckonable income as part of the means test Students getting a scholarship from public funds that is listed as an eligibility exclusion under the Student Grant Scheme (pdf), which doesn鈥檛 fully cover their fees, may be eligible for a grant to cover the remaining fees.
You must apply for your grant online before the closing date. Applications usually close in early November.