Higher Education Institutions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015

Wednesday, 14 January 2015

Questions (791)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

791. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in place to monitor use of public moneys provided to the Union of Students of Ireland. [1268/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution. My Department, or the HEA, does not provide funding to the Union of Students in Ireland and has no role in relation to it, including any audit function with respect to its funding. As the Deputy may be aware, the Student Contribution, which is payable by students who qualify for free fees funding, includes certain student service activities including student union services.