Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 June 2014
83. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the ALBA course in All Hallows College, a BA in personal and professional development, is closing to new entrants; if he is working with other third level institutions to ensure that such a course is available elsewhere in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27635/14]
View answer89. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the students currently enrolled on the adult learning BA course in All Hallows College will be able to complete their BA degrees following the recent announcement that the college is to close; if he will ensure that the ALBA course is continued in another college such as DCU in view of its unique structure and in particular its success with persons who have been out of education for a long time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27720/14]
View answer90. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that students who had planned to progress from the ALBA course to the masters programme in All Hallows College will be accommodated elsewhere on a similar fee level in view of the fact that the fees in All Hallows College have been far lower and more affordable than elsewhere and that many of the current ALBA students will be unable to afford higher fees for an alternative masters programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27722/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 89 and 90 together.
All Hallows College is a private college and is not an approved institution under the Higher Education Authority (HEA). It does not receive core funding, however, my Department provides grant in lieu of tuition fee funding to the College in respect of three approved undergraduate courses. This funding amounted to some €436,000 for the 2013/14 academic year. The ALBA programme referred to by the Deputy is a part-time course and is therefore not an approved course for free fees funding. My Department does not have a role in the placement of students in any third level institution and decisions regarding courses to be run are matters for individual institutions as autonomous bodies. I welcome the fact that the college has stated that it intends to wind down in a phased basis in order to facilitate as much as possible the completion of current students' studies.
