Michael Ring
Question:721 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be assisted by the student support unit, in view of the person's circumstances. [16993/02]
Written Answers. - Student Support Schemes.
Under the terms of my Department's 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.
Eligibility under the initiative is subject to a number of conditions. For example, students who are repeating a year level are generally not eligible for funding.
It is the third level institutions which take decisions regarding eligibility under the free fees initiative, based on criteria issued by my Depart ment. These institutions do not refer individual queries to my Department except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular condition in the criteria is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student, referred to by the Deputy.
Where an institution has not extended the benefit of the free fees initiative to an individual student, and the student is of the view that the free fees criteria have not been interpreted correctly in his-her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the institution itself may, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on an issue from my Department.