Vol. 529 No. 1
1179 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, who is a mature student, does not qualify for a waiver of examin ation fees under the vocational training opportunities scheme or an analogous scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1487/01]
The course in question is not being offered under the vocational training opportunities scheme – VTOS – for which fees are not charged for tuition or examinations.
The student in question is attending a leaving certificate evening course at the Adult Learning Centre, Sexton Street, Limerick. These part-time evening courses are run by Limerick City Vocational Education Committee on a self-financing basis. The VEC is obliged to fund the cost of running the course from fees. Students are made aware that fees are payable for these courses. This student previously completed a junior certificate course with the Adult Learners Support Service in the city of Limerick, which was part of a literacy programme, for which fees were not charged.
VECs receive an annual grant under the special initiative for adults scheme – SPIDAS – which they can use at their discretion to provide subsidies for materially disadvantaged people to attend general adult education courses. If the student thinks she may qualify on the basis of personal circumstances, it would be open to the student to apply to the VEC for fee relief from this fund.
