Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004
281 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason their application was refused; the difference in entitlements to education between persons (details supplied) with refugee status and with residency permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4576/04]
View answerThe universities are autonomous bodies and, as such, may determine their own admissions policy. I understand from University College Cork that it cannot locate a record of an application or a refusal of an application for admission to nursing from the person concerned.
Under the Equal Status Act 2000, educational establishments may not discriminate as regards the terms and conditions of admission on the basis that an applicant is of a different race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin. However, I understand that educational establishments may exercise differential treatment as between EU and non-EU nationals in relation to fees for admission and the allocation of places. UCC have confirmed that in 2003 no offers were made to any non-EU applicants.
The main conditions of the free fees initiative are that students must be first-time undergraduates; and hold EU nationality or official refugee status and 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.
Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme the position is that, generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Candidates must hold EU nationality; have official refugee status; have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State; have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residing in the State; be the child of such person, not having EU nationality; have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to a national of another EU member state who is residing in the State and who is or has been employed or self-employed, in the State; or be the child of such a person, not having EU nationality; be nationals of a member country of the european economic area.
The higher education grants scheme, however, provides that a candidate's eligibility for grant assistance may be reassessed in the event of a change in circumstances in relation to nationality.
