Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 1

Written Answers - Limerick Training College.

Willie O'Dea

Question:

138 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the practice whereby co-op fees are chargeable to BA students at Mary Immaculate Training College, County Limerick as a result of the college having become amalgamated with the University of Limerick; her view that it is inequitable that students have to pay such fees when they do not avail of the services of the co-op office of the University of Limerick; the plans, if any, she has to request the University of Limerick to discontinue charging such fees to students who get no return for their outlay. [2346/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The Deputy will appreciate that my Department has no direct function in the day to day affairs of any university. I have, however, made inquiries in the matter through the Higher Education Authority which maintains a continuous review of the sector.

I understand that the BA programme referred to is a University of Limerick standard undergraduate degree programme. It incorporates an off-campus element by way of academic placement or approved work placement. Such placements are an integral element of all programmes run by the university and are resource intensive in that they involve the development of the placements, their supervision and their subsequent evaluation.

I also understand that the fee levels for the programme are in line with the fees in other universities for similar programmes. While the cost of the programme varies from year to year, the actual fee charged is much the same for each year of the programme. Students following the programme have access to all of the normal services provided by the University Co-operative Education Division through the placement officer at Mary Immaculate College of Education.