asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that fees for the Incorporated Law Society course are £1,400; and that students are not eligible for higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Law Society Fees.
700.
Mr. De Rossa
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the course for persons wishing to qualify as solicitors in the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland school, Blackhall Place, Dublin, i.e. the professional course of six months duration and the advanced course of six to eight weeks duration. These courses are covered by the higher education grants scheme, for the purposes of which they are combined and regarded as being equivalent to a one-year post-graduate course. Accordingly, a student who qualified for a higher education grant under the terms of the scheme of the year he/she sat for the leaving certificate examination and who has completed an undergraduate course with the aid of that grant may have his/her grant extended, subject to the terms of the grants scheme, in respect of the professional and advanced courses in the Incorporated Law Society school.
Two-thirds of the annual rate of the maintenance (if any) and fee elements of grant, subject to the maximum amounts prescribed under the grants scheme, are payable in respect of the professional course and one-third in respect of the advanced course. The maximum of the annual rate of the fee element of a grant is £592 in the present academic year (1981-82).