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Third Level Fees

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020

Tuesday, 10 November 2020

Questions (569, 572)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

569. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the cost to the Exchequer if the same fees were applied for graduate entry medical students as other undergraduate medical students who enter directly from the CAO system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34620/20]

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Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

572. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that graduate entry medical students in UCD are facing the third straight increase in fees; his views on whether the proposed increase is necessary to meet to funding needs of the university given the current level of public funding; his further views on whether these increases are appropriate given the fact that the majority of the educational instruction has moved online this semester and the employment opportunities for students have been diminished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34651/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 572 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education.

Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the criteria in relation to previous study.

Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants. However, in order to widen access to GEM programmes, and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority (HEA). Currently, the subsidy is €11,200 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student.

Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies as set out in legislation and are responsible for the day-to-day management and operational affairs of the institution. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. Where students do not qualify for free fees funding, they pay the appropriate fee, either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. The total level of fees to be charged in the case of GEM fees are therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.

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