Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
567. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the interaction he has had with UCD over the 2% to 4% increase in fees for EU and non-EU students studying graduate entry medicine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34617/20]
View answer571. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34635/20]
View answer575. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to a campaign by students applying for the graduate entry medicine course in UCD in relation to the increasing fees for this particular course of study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34947/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 567, 571 and 575 together.
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.
There is no Department supported loan scheme in place for GEM students. As you are aware there are private loans available for GEM students but these are arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans and the Department has no role in such arrangements.
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. The 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.
