Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
408 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has in place to increase the grant available in view of the fact that college registration fees increased from €670 to €750 over the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11710/04]
View answer410 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science if the registration fees which were increased from €670 to €750 in 2004 will not be further increased in 2005 in view of the fact that there has been an increase of more than 90% over the past two years; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is causing undue hardship to students at third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11761/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 410 together.
The student charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. Those costs continue to be incurred by the third level institutions. On 13 November 2003 I announced, as part of the 2004 Estimates for my Department, that the student charge would increase from €670 to a proposed level of €750. No decision has been made regarding the level of the charge for the 2005-06 academic year.
Students eligible for means-tested student support have the student charge paid on their behalf by the local authorities or the vocational education committees in addition to any grant to which they are entitled. No student whose family income is at or less than €40,000 will pay this charge.
