asked the Minister for Education if she is aware of the problems of leaving certificate students who are awarded places in university and other third-level degree courses, in colleges of education degree courses, in technician and advance level courses and in regional technical college courses, all through different agencies, and who had to forward part of the fee for the degree courses before interviews for other courses for which they had a preference took place and that this was a matter of considerable anxiety for parents and students alike; and if she will make a statement on the action she proposes to take to deal with this situation in the future.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Fees for Degree Courses.
15.
I am aware of a difficulty which arises for some students who are offered places by the Central Applications Office in institutions for which that office are the central placing agency. Under regulations drawn up by the CAO students on accepting a place must pay a deposit to the educational institution. A portion of the deposit, currently £105, is non-refundable. The deposit is transferred to the student's credit should he or she take up a place in an institution and on a course for which the CAO are the placing agency but otherwise the non-refundable portion is retained.
My Department approached the CAO some time ago asking them to change these arrangements so as to ensure that students and their parents are not at a loss of the deposit in question but the COA refused to extend the arrangements for transfer of the deposit to institutions other than those affiliated to the CAO. I should explain that the CAO are a limited company, set up by their affiliated institutions, over whose regulations I have no control.
I am having the matter of the entry procedures to third level institutions examined in my Department with a view to alleviating the difficulties being experienced by prospective third-level students.
Will the Minister put further pressure on the CAO in respect of this matter? What is happening is quite unfair. Young people who have a preference for a certain course and who get a call to university must apply to the university and pay a portion of the fee. Later when they are admitted to the course of their preference they have to forfeit £105 because of this regulation.
I hope I have conveyed to the Deputy that I share his concern on this matter. We must review the situation with the CAO regarding the recruitment and entry of students to third level. It is not as simple as it might seem to have one recruiting process because there are a variety of methods of recruitment. However, I am having the deposit and other matters examined to see how we can alleviate the situation.
Irrespective of the manner of recruitment, would the Minister agree that it is most unfair to retain this £105.
I will have to see what I can do.
When she makes further reference to the CAO, would she inform me of the results?
I must now move to questions nominated for priority.