Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 March 2004
235 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason exam fees have been levied on final year apprentices, who are undertaking such apprenticeships under the auspices of FÁS; if, in this context he will take steps to ensure that such levies are not imposed, due to the financial exigencies of many of the students who are participating in these apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7734/04]
View answerIn 2003 I received requests from a number of governing bodies of institutes of technology for approval to apply the student service charge to defray the costs of registration, examinations and student services, to students enrolled on FÁS apprenticeship courses. The institutes argued that a pro rata charge should be levied on apprentices on the basis that they avail of the full range of services provided to students in the institutes. The institutes considered that it was inequitable to levy the charge on full-time students only as this gave rise to a situation whereby full-time students were effectively subsidising apprentices through their contributions toward the cost of providing student services.
Following consideration of the case made by the institutes of technology, I decided to approve the introduction of a pro rata student services charge for FÁS apprentices from January 2004.
Unlike other categories of students, apprentices receive wages and either a travel or an accommodation allowance while studying in the institutes. Nevertheless, the institutes are prepared to consider reducing or waiving the charge in cases where it would cause hardship to the apprentice or their family.
