Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
346. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the non-EU student fee could be waived in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34662/13]
View answerAccess to Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses for non-Irish nationals in the following categories is available under the same conditions as apply to Irish nationals: EU nationals; persons who have refugee status in Ireland – be that convention or programme refugee status; persons in the State as the spouse of an EU national, where the EU national has moved from one country to another within the EU to work; persons (including their dependent spouse and children) who have been granted leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds; persons who have permission to remain in the State as the parents of a child born in Ireland - such a right is not extended to siblings of the Irish born child; and those asylum applicants covered by the terms of a Government decision of 26 July 1999. These participants may have to pay a registration charge to cover the cost of exam fees, student services, uniforms or course equipment. In addition a €200 PLC participant charge is also payable unless learners can claim an exemption. Full medical card holders, BTEA recipients and those eligible for maintenance grants are exempt from paying this participant charge. All other categories must pay the full economic fee currently €3,653 per annum. As the person referred to by the Deputy does not come under any of these categories she is required to pay the full economic fee. The administration and collection of the economic fee is a matter for the PLC College and Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board which has responsibility for the day to day management and running of the college.
