Vol. 479 No. 2
192 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Education the reason the pharmaceutical technician course at Trinity College does not come under the free fees scheme; whether this course is available in any other college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12565/97]
Under the free fees initiative, tuition fees are payable in respect of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, other than European Social Fund (ESF) aided courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved third level institutions. The pharmaceutical technician course does not come within the scope of the free fees initiative as the first year of the course is aided by the ESF as a post-leaving certificate course and is pursued in Coláiste Íde, Finglas, which is a second level college. Furthermore, the remainder of the course consists of six months practical work experience with the final six months taking place in Trinity College.
Under the free fees initiative, the universities recoup tuition fees in respect of students attending courses which come within the eligibility criteria, from the Higher Education Authority. I understand that students on this course in 1995-6 were inadvertently included in the free fees initiative. When the question of this course's inclusion within the free fees initiative was brought to my Department's attention, my Department advised that the course did not meet the eligibility criteria for inclusion in the initiative.
I am not aware that this course is available in any other college.
193 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Education the reason a student (details supplied) in County Roscommon who applied for a full maintenance grant under the vocational education committee scholarship scheme as a full-time independent mature student, has not received this grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12566/97]
Responsibility for the administration of the vocational education committee scholarship scheme rests with individual vocational education committees. I understand that the person in question applied for a vocational education committee scholarship to City of Galway vocational education committee. The vocational education committee agreed to approve a maintenance grant at the adjacent rate in this case, on the basis that the applicant, who is an independent mature candidate, resides within 15 miles of the college which he is attending. Should the applicant require any further information in regard to the vocational education committee decision or to his entitlement under the scheme, he should contact the vocational education committee in the matter.
