Post-Leaving Certificate Courses Fees

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 April 2017

Wednesday, 12 April 2017

Questions (145)

Carol Nolan

Question:

145. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of abolishing PLC and apprenticeship fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18520/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The 2011 Budget provided for the introduction of a €200 annual Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme participant contribution. This was introduced at the start of the 2011/2012 academic year and the same charge has applied each year since then.

Full medical card holders, in their own right as well as their dependent children, those eligible under the student grant scheme and those in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) or Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) allowances are exempt from paying the contribution. Approximately 60% of PLC learners in any given year are exempt from paying the charge.

The PLC participant contribution is set against the amount to be paid in enhanced capitation grants to ETBs. The estimated cost of removing the PLC participant charge is approximately €3 million annually.

In relation to Apprenticeship fees an Annual Student Contribution is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs). Previously this Annual Student Contribution was paid by FÁS/SOLAS with apprentices themselves paying the part of the contribution relating to examination fees. As part of Budget 2014, SOLAS ceased making payments to IoTs and apprentices pay the full pro rata Annual Student Contribution.

The amount charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in IoTs during the academic year. This cost would typically be one third of the Annual Student Contribution paid by students attending for the full academic year, currently €3,000 and would amount to approx. €1,000 per student per annum. 

The cost of not charging the Annual Student Contribution to apprentices in 2017 is estimated as €3.8 million.

I have no plans to abolish either the PLC participant charge or the Annual Student Contribution for apprentices.