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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Student Support Scheme.

Joe Walsh

Question:

510 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will have arrangements made to allow people who are working full-time and studying parttime to be covered for fees under the new higher education grant scheme in spite of the fact that they already hold a degree, but received this degree when no higher education grants were available. [15687/96]

The student support schemes apply only to approved full-time courses in recognised institutions. The free fees initiative applies to approved full-time undergraduate courses in institutions which are recognised for the purposes of student support and are part of the CAO entry system.

Students who already have a degree are not eligible to avail of the free fees initiative. Similar restrictions also apply generally under the student support schemes.
Students who have completed a degree in a publicly funded institution have already benefitted from Exchequer support as the fees charged do not reflect the economic cost of the course.
It has been necessary to adopt this approach because of overall resource constraints and the need to give priority to those who are seeking their first undergraduate qualification.
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