Theresa Ahearn
Question:171 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Education when free fees will be extended to students in the College of Surgeons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6764/97]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Under the free fees initiative, the State meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges. Over 28,000 students benefited under the initiative in 1995-96 at a cost to the Exchequer of £54.5 million in 1996. The costs associated with the initiative have been offset by the savings from the abolition of regressive covenant tax relief.
I have no plans to extend the scope of the free fees initiative to include the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Indeed, the RCSI has written to my Department stating that while the college will be part of the CAO system of entry from the commencement of the 1997-98 academic year, it does not wish to be considered for inclusion in the free fees initiative at present. Any extension of the free fees initiative would have to be considered in the light of overall resource constraints. In this regard, I would point out that tax relief is available at the standard rate, on fees paid to the RCSI in accordance with the provisions contained in section 6 of the Finance Act, 1995.