Vol. 490 No. 5
291 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason students studying the pharmaceutical technician course at Coláiste Íde and Trinity College, Dublin 2, are not covered by the free undergraduate fees provisions for the proportion of the course at TCD; the steps, if any, he will take to rectify this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10394/98]
The first year of the programme attended by these students is aided by the European Social Fund as a post leaving certificate course and is provided in Colaiste Íde, Finglas. There is no tuition charge for this element of the programme. The remainder of the programme consists of six months practical work experience with the final six months taking place in Trinity College Dublin. 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, other than exceptionally be of at least two years duration, at approved third level institutions. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical technician course does not come within the scope of the free fees initiative.
