Finian McGrath
Question:169 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will try again to provide a solution with the Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, to assist a person (details supplied). [28051/03]
Written Answers. - Institutes of Technology.
Under the current regulations governing the payment of fees for certificate and diploma programmes in institutes of technology, my Department meets the tuition fees of students who hold EU nationality. It also meets the tuition fees of non-EU nationals who have been granted official refugee status or who have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State and who have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. The rate of tuition fee charged by individual third level institutions, where students are not eligible under the free fees initiative, is a matter for each institution to determine on an autonomous basis. The classification of a student as an EU or a non-EU applicant is a matter for each institution to determine in this regard.
My Department made enquiries with the Dublin Institute of Technology in this case and was informed that the student, who is a non-EU national, was previously charged a reduced rate of fees for a certificate programme as an exceptional matter. It is also understood that he has now been accepted onto a follow-on diploma programme but the Dublin Institute of Technology is not in a position to extend the reduced fee arrangement for this further course. The Dublin Institute of Technology is a statutory body established under the Dublin Institute of Technology Act 1992. Under the Act, the governance and day-to-day activities of the institute are matters for which the governing body and the management staff of the institute are responsible. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in this matter.