asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the high cost of the entrance fee for matriculation, he will include the amount of this fee in revised grants to students.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Students' Grants.
40.
The grants payable under the higher education grants scheme relate only to students who have obtained at least grade C in honours papers in four subjects at the leaving certificate examination. These grants are related to the costs involved in attending courses in higher education and it would not be appropriate that the fees charged for matriculation or other university entrance examination should form part of the grants.
Would the Minister not agree that an entrance fee of £7 for matriculation on entries up to 1st March and a further £4 in addition if the entry is received after 1st March, bringing the total to £11, is exorbitant? Does he realise the drain that is on the working man's pocket especially in view of the fact that we are told about all the free education there is at present. The matter deserves reconsideration if the Minister is honest in what he says about free education.
I have already pointed out to the Deputy that grants are related to the cost involved in attending courses in higher education. These grants are available to students of ability who are least able to help themselves.
What kind of a "student of ability" can come along? First, he must find £7 or £11 before he can qualify and prove that he is a student of advanced education.
He knows at that point whether he has the necessary qualifications or not.
No, he has to sit for the examination and must pay a fee of £7 or £11 before coming near an examination paper. I want an answer to my question. A student who wants to sit for the matriculation has to pay a fee of £7——
The Deputy has said that three times.
How can he qualify unless he sits for the examination?
If he qualifies on the basis of the leaving certificate he knows if he has the qualifications or not.
Matriculation is much more important than the leaving certificate——
I certainly would not agree with that.
All the students of the country would.
I do not think so.