Official Report: Minutes of Evidence

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): I welcome the following departmental officials to brief the Committee: Mark McLean, the chief agricultural economist in the policy, economics and statistics division (PESD); and Chloe Robinson, the deputy principal of the policy development branch (PDB). If you would like to brief the Committee, please go ahead.

Mr Mark McLean (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs): Good morning, Chair and members. Thank you for the welcome and the opportunity to speak to the Committee today on the proposed statutory rule (SR) that would make amendments to the Agriculture (Student Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023.

The regulations would apply an inflationary increase of 2·3% to higher education (HE) student fees for the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) for the academic year 2025-26. That is in line with the Department's policy position of maintaining parity with the higher education fee framework set by the Department for the Economy for higher education courses provided by other higher education institutions in Northern Ireland. In addition, the higher education student fees for students from Great Britain who attend CAFRE will increase from £9,250 to £9,535 for the academic year 2025-26. That would reflect the level set by the Department for Education for England. That maintains parity with the charges set by all other higher education institutions in Northern Ireland.

The proposed SR would also make minor amendments to the qualifying person schedule to reflect changes made to the immigration rules in relation to persons granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a victim of domestic violence or domestic abuse; persons granted indefinite leave to enter or remain as a bereaved partner; and persons granted indefinite leave to enter or remain under one of the Afghan- or Ukraine-related immigration schemes.

My colleague Chloe Robinson and I are happy to take questions from the Committee.

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): Thank you very much for that. I have one question for you. We know that, since 2022, DAERA's policy on higher education fees for home students has been to maintain parity with the higher education fee framework set by DFE for higher education courses provided by other HE institutions in Northern Ireland. That has resulted in two fee frameworks operating. At what point will all students on the legacy fee framework have completed their studies?

Mr McLean: Sorry, I did not quite hear the last part.

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): It looks like there have been two fee frameworks operating since 2022. At what point will all students on the legacy fee framework have completed their studies?

Ms Chloe Robinson (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs): In 2024-25, we had 50 students on the legacy fee framework. Using CAFRE's provisional figures for the coming academic year, there will be no students on the legacy fee framework.

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): None?

Ms Robinson: None.

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): Excellent. That is a factual answer, which is unusual. Do not make that a habit. Thank you very much.

Mr McGlone: I have a technical question. It is good to see you, Mark.

There is an equality and disability duties impact assessment that runs to 62 pages, which is grand. The rural needs impact assessment runs to eight pages. I have a query on 2C of the rural needs impact assessment. It asks whether the policy:

The answer is that it:

I see it affecting people in rural areas disproportionately, because 79% of those who are likely to apply are from rural areas as opposed to 21% from urban areas. I do not expect an immediate answer today, but that is a bit of an anomaly that I spotted last night when I was reading through the papers.

Ms Robinson: The inflationary increase applies to all students at CAFRE.

Mr McGlone: I get that, aye.

Ms Robinson: It applies to other HE institutions in Northern Ireland as well, so they will be charged that standard rate no matter where they study in Northern Ireland.

Mr McGlone: Maybe you are not getting what I am saying. The assessment says that it:

However, it will affect people in rural areas disproportionately because 79% of those who will be affected are from rural areas and 21% are from urban areas.

Mr McLean: If you take CAFRE in isolation, you can make that point. However, we have been looking at HE fees across the board, and, because the amended regulations will maintain parity with all HE institutions, which draw their students from urban and rural areas, we conclude that there will not be a disproportionate impact on rural areas.

Mr McGlone: So, you are taking it in the context of all institutions as opposed to one.

Mr McLean: Yes.

Mr McGlone: OK, grand. Thank you.

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): No other members have questions. You will not get off as lightly the next time you come.

Members, are we agreed that the Department proceed to make the SR? We will then consider it and the SR report in due course.

The Chairperson (Mr Butler): Thank you, members. Thank you very much to the officials for their attendance today.