Third Level Fees.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2004

Wednesday, 30 June 2004

Questions (47)

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

107 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the policy whereby a person with a higher level academic qualification, such as a Ph.D, cannot qualify for free fees to study for a higher diploma in education in order to teach at second level; his views on the fact that this deters many potentially excellent teachers, especially in the science area, from joining the teaching profession at second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19474/04]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

Under the terms of the free fees initiative my Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students. The main conditions 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. Students on post-graduate courses are not eligible under the free fees initiative.