Budget 2024 is a landmark budget for higher education – Kehoe

Budget 2024 is significantly reducing the cost of higher education to help students and their families, said a Fine Gael TD.

Fine Gael Education, Further and Higher Education Spokesperson Paul Kehoe said: “Budget 2024 is designed to help you and your family, with education a key priority for this budget”.

“Fine Gael is committed to putting more money in people’s pockets by cutting tax and USC. This is the tenth Budget in a row this has happened to reward work and help people keep more of their hard-earned wages,” Deputy Kehoe added.

“In recent years, Fine Gael has helped students and families with the cost of going to college by both cutting fees and raising the student grant.

“From September, all undergraduate college fees will be abolished for those earning less than €56,000. For the first time ever, this will include part-time students.

“We will also see families with an income of less than €100,000 benefit from a reduction in college fees to €1,500, with all other families having fees cut by €1,000.

“This is a major investment in our education system and will help to ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn and get the qualification they want.

“The SUSI grant is the main support for students attending higher education. In 2024, these grants will increase by €342 for the first five months of the year for those on the non –adjacent rate, starting in January.

“Fine Gael and Minister Simon Harris have been committed to supporting apprenticeship programmes and this is clear from the budget, as fees for apprenticeships will be cut by 33%.

“We will also invest an additional €67 million for apprenticeships, to invest in the future of these schemes.

“Postgraduates will significantly benefit from this budget with maintenance grants being restored for the first-time since the financial crisis, with grants of up to €2,384 available.

“We are also investing in the future of education. From now into 2024, we will invest an additional €166 million in higher education – with €60 million allocated for core funding.

“Budget 2024 is helping families with the cost of living, by cutting the cost of education, and putting more money back into people’s pockets. All of this is possible thanks to a strong economy under successive Fine Gael governments”, concluded Deputy Kehoe.