Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
204. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which he will receive the Higher Education Authority report on the practices currently operated by individual higher education institutions in charging different rates of fees. [19388/14]
View answerThe Higher Education Authority (HEA) submitted details of the criteria in place in both the University and Institute of Technology sectors in the charging of fees (at either the EU or higher non-EU rate) to students who do not qualify for free fees under my Department's free fees schemes. Whilst the determination of fees for students who do not qualify for free fees is a matter for the higher education institutions as autonomous bodies I have asked the HEA to ensure that consistency is applied in the sectors in the charging of fees. In this regard I have recently requested that the HEA advise the sector that students who hold EU/EEA/Swiss nationality but have not been resident in these states and have completed five academic years of study (at either primary or post-primary level) in an EU/EEA/Swiss State and commence their first undergraduate course of study in an approved institution here from the next academic year onwards should be charged the EU rate of fee rather than the higher non-EU rate.
I am anxious to ensure that children who move out of the Irish education system, and subsequently return to study at third level, and also EU/EEA/Swiss nationals, who have left their home country and subsequently come to Ireland to study at third level, should not be so disadvantaged by being charged the higher non-EU rate of fee.
