Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 3

Written Answers - Third Level Fees.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

166 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is any funding for the acceptance of the offer fee of higher diploma students who are unable to afford this fee; and if there is any discretion or funding available for such students. [12701/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department understands that the Higher Diploma in Education National University of Ireland applications centre issues offers for the higher diploma in education on behalf of the member universities. A non-refundable fee deposit of £200 is required to confirm each offer. The fee deposit is not discretionary and, my Department has been informed, is essential for the efficient and equitable implementation of acceptance procedures for all applicants. The fee is subsequently transferred to the fees office of the university in question to be offset against the cost of tuition fees for the course.

The statutory framework for the third level maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. An approved course for the purposes of the higher education grant scheme is a full-time undergraduate course of a minimum duration of two years or a full-postgraduate course of a minimum duration of one year in an approved third level institution.

If the students in question meet the terms and conditions of the higher education grants scheme, they are eligible for grant assistance towards maintenance and the cost of tuition fees for the course is met by the relevant local authority.

Apart from the maintenance grants schemes and the free fees initiative, under which my Department meets the cost of tuition fees for eli gible undergraduate students in approved institutions, financial support is also available to students through the student assistance-access fund. The objectives of the fund, which is ESF-aided, are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. Students must be attending an undergraduate course, or a postgraduate course of not less than one-year duration, in order to be deemed eligible for assistance.

The fund is administered by the third level institutions and provides direct financial support to disadvantaged students to assist them to remain on in college. The fund is administered on a discretionary and confidential basis by each third level institution. I increased significantly the provision for this fund from £1.296 million in 1999 to £1.964 million in 2000.