(South Tipperary) and Mr. Coughlan asked the Taoiseach if he can give (a) the estimated cost to the parents of the Republic of maintaining the present number of students attending universities in the State, per annum; and (b) the annual loss of potential earnings by the students while pursuing university courses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Maintenance of University Students.
5.
Mr. T. O'Donnell, Mr. Jones, Mr. T. Dunne, Mr. P. Hogan
There are no data available from which reliable estimates could be made of the total cost of maintaining students at universities and of the loss of potential earnings by the students. The only relevant information available relates to the fees paid in respect of university education. In 1966-67, the latest year for which figures are available, fees received by the National University, the University Colleges at Dublin, Cork and Galway and Trinity College, Dublin, amounted to £1.4 million. About 12,800 students or more than 80 per cent of all full-time students, were from homes in the Twenty-six Counties, so that about £1.1 million was paid by parents resident in the State.