Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 September 2013
97. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to the recent policy change allowing non-EEA nationals who acquire EEA citizenship to avail of reduced tuition fees; if existing students in this situation will also be allowed to avail of reduced fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40229/13]
View answerThe recently announced change referred to by the Deputy involves an amendment to the free fees schemes whereby with effect from the academic year 2013/14, a 'Change of Nationality' clause now forms part of the schemes. This change to the criteria of the schemes provides that students who are not eligible for free fees at the commencement of their course of studies, because they do not meet the nationality clause, and who subsequently acquire EEA citizenship during their study, may be eligible for free fees for the remainder of their course of study subject to certain conditions. This amendment also applies to existing students who, with effect from the 2013/14 academic year, may be eligible for free fees funding where they were ineligible due to not meeting the nationality requirement of the schemes and have subsequently acquired EEA citizenship since the commencement of their course of study. In order to be eligible under this 'Change of Nationality' clause students must have met all other criterion of the Free Fees Schemes, apart from nationality, at date of entry to their course of study. Where students do not meet the terms of the free fees schemes, including nationality, it is the higher education institution that determines, in accordance with its own criteria, the rate of tuition fees (EU or non EU) to be paid by students.
