Further and Higher Education

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (473)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

473. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department has issued an instruction to all education and training boards that international protection applicants will no longer be required to pay international fees to access post leaving certificate courses as per his announcement on 11 March 2021; if so, if the instruction can be made public for the benefit of all involved; if the instruction has not been issued or made public, if this will happen prior to the academic year 2021-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33262/21]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

In March 2021, I announced that from the start of the 2021/22 academic year, international protection applicants who have permission to work and are seeking to access Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses will no longer have to pay international fees of €3,600.

SOLAS issued instruction to this effect to all 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across the country on May 10th 2021. Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) has informed my officials that these instructions were re-issued to the ETB Further Education and Training (FET) Directors Forum on May 31st, requesting that all PLC centres across the country be reminded of this position.

The waiving of the international fee in relation to PLC courses moves Ireland further towards a level playing field and improves opportunities for people, ensuring that more people can access FET.