As the Deputy will be aware under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees of full-time eligible undergraduate students. I understand that the issue relates to the payment of a fee to cover particular services provided by the College, such as the provision of meals, stationery etc. which do not form part of the student contribution payable by students.
The position is that the third level institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs, for which the Governing Bodies and the management staff of the institutions are responsible. Accordingly I do not have a role in this matter.