Vol. 564 No. 1
193 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if Irish citizens, having studied in the USA and obtained a degree qualification there, will be expected to pay the full cost of their degree studies here, as they have been told that they are regarded as non-EU students even though they hold Irish passports and own a residence here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8868/03]
The criteria determining eligibility under the free fees initiative states that EU nationals must be ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to their third level course. The conditions also include a provision that tuition fees will not be paid in respect of students pursuing a second undergraduate course at the same level.
Under the free fees initiative, postgraduate courses do not qualify for free fees. Third level institutions generally apply the same residency requirements when determining eligibility for EU level fees for these courses.
