Education

Harris aims to halve third-level education fees

Minister says he wants to increase income thresholds so more students can benefit from the proposed cuts and increase grants

Simon Harris the Minister for Further and Higher Education: plans to increase grants from January ahead of inflation, by between 10 per cent and 14 per cent. Picture: Barbara Lindberg

Simon Harris wants third-level fees to be halved over the remainder of the government’s term, the Minister for Further and Higher Education has told the Business Post.

In the aftermath of the financial crash, the Fianna Fáil-Green Party coalition raised the student contribution fee from €900 to €2,000, while the Fine Gael-Labour government oversaw a further phased increase from €2,000 to €3,000 between 2011 and 2015.

The issue of third-level fees has long been a ...