Michael Creed
Question:630 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimated cost of abolishing post-graduate tuition fees and student nursing tuition fees on an annual basis. [7978/02]
Written Answers. - Third Level Fees.
The revised programme for basic pre-registration nurse education and training which was introduced in October, 1994 and fully operational since 1998, is at present funded by the Department of Health and Children. Successful completion of the three year programme leads to a diploma in nursing studies and students are eligible to register with An Bord Altranais for employment as a nurse. While undertaking the diploma programme, the students' fees are paid by the relevant health agency.
In 2001, the Government approved the implementation of a new four-year undergraduate pre-registration nursing degree programme from the start of the coming academic year, 2002-03.
Accordingly, with effect from the 2002-03 academic year, students pursuing the bachelor of science degree in nursing will be eligible to benefit under the free fees initiative, whereby the State meets the tuition fees of students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, subject to the terms and conditions of that initiative.
With effect from the 2002-03 academic year, the bachelor of science degree in nursing will also be an approved course for the purposes of the higher education maintenance grants scheme and the vocational education scholarship scheme.
With regard to the estimated cost of abolishing post-graduate tuition fees, my Department is at present preparing updated costings. I will arrange for the information, when complete, to be forwarded directly to the Deputy.