Under the terms of the free fees initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending approved full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years' duration at approved colleges. The pharmaceutical technician diploma course is not an approved course for purpose of the initiative.
Year one of the two year pharmaceutical technician diploma course is completed at a post-leaving certificate college. Eligible students entering PLC courses are not liable for tuition fees and may, subject to certain conditions, receive grant assistance under my Department's maintenance grants scheme for students attending post-leaving certificate courses. Year two of the course is completed at Trinity College, Dublin.
In 1998 the terms of the higher education grants scheme were extended to include a one-year course, where this represents progression from an approved PLC course. This extension was included to take particular account of students who, having completed year one of the pharmaceutical technician course, advanced to pursue the second year of the course in Trinity College.
Apart from the funding provided through the free fees initiative and the student support schemes, funding is also provided by my Department through the student assistance-access fund. The objective of the fund, which is allocated to approved third level colleges, is to assist students who, due to their financial circumstances, might be unable to continue their third level studies. Information is available from the access officer or other officer with responsibility for the fund in each college.