Vol. 495 No. 1
380 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students in the Galway and Mayo Institute of Technology who are studying for a national diploma in humanities (video production) are not eligible for free fees or for grants due to some difficulties with designation of the course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19777/98]
421 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the distress being caused by the high level of fees being charged for a one year diploma course for the National Diploma in Humanities (Video Production) at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology; if he will assist in removing the anomaly that results in this course not qualifying for a grant and for which students are charged fees; and if he will release funding in order to ensure that the course is adequately resourced. [19578/98]
In order to qualify for grant aid under the third level student support schemes, a student must be pursuing a full-time under-graduate course of at least two years' duration or a postgraduate course of at least 1 year's duration. As the course in question is an under-graduate course of one year's duration, students are not eligible for grant assistance in respect of their attendance on the course. I would mention to the Deputy however, that as an exceptional matter in the 1997-98 year, grant aid was provided to and fees paid on behalf of students attending this course as the students concerned had been advised by the college authorities that the course was eligible for assistance. My Department notified the college authorities and the vocational education committees that the exceptional arrangement applied only to students pursuing the course in the 1997-98 academic year.
The Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology has advised my Department that it is seeking redesignation of the course by the NCEA as a graduate diploma course. It will be a matter for the institute to advise my Department of any redesignation so that consideration can be given to its eligibility under the student support schemes.
