Bernard Allen
Question:192 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science if children of Irish citizens are entitled to free tuition fees if the child is a non-national. [19471/01]
Written Answers. - Tuition Fees.
Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods): Under the free fees initiative, the State meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges.
Under the criteria, tuition fees will be paid in respect of EU nationals who have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to a third level course. This condition applies equally to all EU nationals, including Irish nationals, in accordance with a judgment of the European Court of Justice that access to vocational training must apply equally to all EU nationals. Under the nationality requirement of the initiative, therefore, the student must hold EU nationality or have official refugee status.
The maintenance grants schemes operated by my Department provide for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. Students entering approved courses for the first time are, generally speaking, eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, resi dence, means, and nationality. Under the nationality clause of the schemes, candidates who have EU nationality, refugee status or have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State, are eligible to apply for grant assistance subject to the other conditions in the schemes.