Tánaiste says student fees will be reduced in 2025 despite coalition tension
Simon Harris moved to stress that the coalition remains committed to lowering the cost of third-level education, but said any reductions would be implemented next year, when a second instalment is due.
It comes after Higher Education Minister James Lawless said student fees — which were reduced by €1,000 over the past three years — will return to €3,000, as Budget 2026 will not include the cost-of-living measures that previously enabled the cut.
Asked about differences between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on third-level fees, Mr Harris emphasised that a programme for government had been signed off by both parties.
"This idea that a bill is going to fall due of €3,000 in September isn't actually what happens. Most people don't have three grand under the mattress, or six grand if the two kids come to college — people pay in instalments, often two or three instalments, one before Christmas, maybe one in the new year, one after. So actually, the time any reduction comes in at isn't the most pertinent point."
He added: "As everybody knows, these announcements are made on budget day, but what I would say to people is, the programme for government is clear, and the direction of travel government wants to go in terms of reducing the cost of college, and we're also clear in terms of how the actual process of paying fees works.
"So it's not a question of fees going up in September, it's a question of the Government's decisions that we make in a budget will then obviously be reflected from the new calendar year and that's normal budgeting."
Instead of introducing a temporary cost-of-living package, Mr Harris said the Government's focus must now shift to "proper, structural, permanent changes". He highlighted supports aimed at reducing costs for small businesses, childcare, schools, and third-level education.
"We're not going to have a specific kind of package of measures between now and the Christmas period; we're going to get back into regular budgeting. We both in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael said that very honestly in the general election campaign, and the programme for government says that as well," said Mr Harris.
He added that the budget would be "expansionary" and aimed at helping the squeezed middle.
Read More
Taoiseach hints at possible student fee cuts despite coalition split over third-level funding
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Tensions continue to mount in Coalition over potential student fee changes
Government leaders have moved to put on a united front despite continuing private tensions over student fee changes in the upcoming Budget. Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have stressed the coalition is committed to reducing the cost of third level education over the lifetime of the government, after differences of opinion emerged in recent days over whether student fees should be restored to €3,000 from this term. However privately, senior members of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have moved to blame the other party for the disagreement which has sparked a backlash from students and families in recent days. One senior Fianna Fáil minister described as "unfortunate" the fact that the parties have become embroiled in a row before proper budget talks have even started, and suggested that Mr Harris was raising expectations at a time when it will be challenging to meet the level of spending which people may be anticipating. However, another Fine Gael minister laid the blame for tensions squarely at higher education minister James Lawless who said student fees, that were reduced by €1,000 over the past three years, will return to €3,000 as Budget 2026 will not contain a cost-of-living package which enabled the cut. The source hit out a "naivety on his part" of Fianna Fáil's Mr Lawless, stating that he "certainly doesn't have an understanding of how the process works". Mr Harris insisted that the Government is united on the issue of student fees, which he indicated will be reduced from early next year. Asked about differences of opinion between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on third level fees, Mr Harris stressed that a programme for government had been sign off on by both parties. "This idea that a bill is going to fall due of €3,000 in September isn't actually what happens. Most people don't have three grand under the mattress, or six grand if the two kids come to college, people pay in instalments, often two or three instalments, one before Christmas, maybe one in the new year, one after. So actually, the time that any reduction comes in at isn't the most pertinent point." Speaking in Japan, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government wants to introduce reforms to be sustained across their five year term. 'The Tánaiste and I, and Minister Paschal Donohoe and Minister Jack Chambers have agreed that there won't be a cost of living package this year,' Mr Martin said. What we're going to try and do is mainstream reforms and commitments in the Programme for Government into the Budget, that will be sustained then over a period of time. "But that will create challenges for us in the first year.' Mr Martin said there are other commitments within higher education the Government needs to examine, including the expansion of the SUSI grant and increasing accessibility to third-level for students with disabilities. 'There's a broad range of priorities there. So it'll all go forward to negotiations,' he said. With student fees typically paid in instalments, Mr Martin was asked if it would be possible to cut the second instalment fee for students. He said it 'might be possible', but it was early days ahead of the October budget and it would depend on the funding agreed by the public expenditure minister. Read More Tánaiste insists student fees will be reduced despite coalition tension
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Government trade forum examines measures to mitigate global economic uncertainty
The Government trade forum will be briefed on the necessity to prioritise energy, water, transport, and housing projects to counter global economic uncertainty. Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers is currently putting together a revised National Development Plan (NDP), which will allocate billions of euro from the Apple funds into capital projects that can be delivered to promote economic growth. It is expected Mr Chambers will tell the forum, which includes representatives across business, agriculture, tourism, and trade unions, that it is more important than ever to "control the controllables" through strategic allocation of funds to departments where work on projects can commence almost immediately. However, the final funding allocations will not be made until the days before the NDP announcement later this month, as negotiations continue. Finance minister Paschal Donohoe will update the forum on the wider economic impact of tariffs and progress being made ahead of the July 9 deadline for negotiation talks with the US. There is "positive momentum" towards an outline deal with the new normal becoming a baseline tariff of 10% and it is understood the analysis will have a focus on this. Speaking ahead of the forum, Tánaiste Simon Harris said there is no doubt that the days and weeks ahead will see uncertainties and difficult decisions. Ireland will have to be nimble in its responses, Mr Harris said as he emphasised the importance of reaching an agreement that has zero-for-zero "or as near as possible in as many areas as possible". It is important for businesses that have had to contend with months of turbulence that an agreement, or at the very least a framework agreement, can be reached, he said. There needs to be a solution "that can bring certainty for businesses operating in Ireland, in Europe, in the US, that can protect jobs here in this country, investment, and can also avoid a high level of tariffs that are bad for people in terms of the price of goods and services," said Mr Harris.
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Harris to tell forum that 10% US tariffs are 'new normal'
Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell a trade forum today that US tariffs of 10% on exports from Ireland will be the "new normal" but that efforts are continuing to agree zero for zero taxes in some key areas. The meeting takes place a week before the scheduled lifting of a pause on higher tariffs by the US president Donald Trump. The Government's forum is comprised of State agencies, business groups, unions and senior ministers. At present most Irish exports to the US now have tariffs of 10%. But there are significant exceptions including Ireland's pharmaceuticals sector and computer chip manufacturers. Those arrangements were in place temporarily pending a trade deal between the US and EU but they could now become permanent. The EU is reportedly negotiating to keep some sectors free of tariffs and accepting 10% duties on other goods. Today's meeting will also hear an update on the new strategy for the computer chip industry. The forum will also receive an economic assessment of impact of tariffs from Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe. There will also be discussion about how Irish companies can diversify into new markets. Ahead of the meeting, the Tánaiste said Ireland needed an agreement "that has zero-for-zero or as near as possible in as many areas as possible". "We cannot ignore the fact that every single day the trading relationship between the EU and the US is worth more than €4 billion," Mr Harris said.
