Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
195. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to introduce a return of service arrangement for those studying graduate entry medicine allowing for a waiving of student fees in return for working in the HSE for a set period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4716/21]
View answerMatters relating to the introduction of a scheme to provide for tuition fee funding to students in return for future clinical years in the HSE is matter for the Department of Health.
It is important to reflect upon the supports provided to students and the basis of the fees charged by institutions. 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. Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes.
Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses (including medicine courses). In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attainment.
Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) is one of the pathways to study undergraduate medicine. One of the recommendations of the Fottrell report (2006) was the introduction of a new graduate entry medicine programme (GEM). 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 HEA. Currently, the subsidy is €11,200 per student (2019/20 academic year) with the balance of fees payable by the student.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. 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. As I have referenced above, the provision of a scheme linked to future clinical years working in the HSE is a matter for the Department of Health to consider.
