Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1190. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to plans for a bank (details supplied) to discontinue providing student loans to graduate-entry medical students; the steps he is taking to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20171/22]
View answer1192. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Bank of Ireland is currently the only financial institution in Ireland that offers a suitable loan for students linked directly to graduate-entry medicine courses (details supplied); If his attention has been further drawn to the fact that current students have been advised by the bank that this loan is being discontinued from 31 July 2022; and the plans of his Department to find an urgent replacement or alternative for this loan scheme. [20191/22]
View answer1193. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the supports that will be put in place for graduate-entry medicine students given that a bank (details supplied) is withdrawing its tailored loan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20200/22]
View answer1196. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to assist graduate-entry medicine students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to avail of the medicine degree at the Royal College of Surgeons, against the backdrop of the removal of the one loan that exists in this field (details supplied). [20222/22]
View answer1199. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether the discontinuation by a bank (details supplied) of its loan specifically for general-entry medical students will limit access to the programme; his plans to ensure financial barriers do not limit access to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20366/22]
View answer1202. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the cost of graduate-entry courses to medicine and the lack of loan options for students to fund the cost; and if he will consider support for the cost in order to promote a greater supply of graduating doctors. [20438/22]
View answer1206. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a bank (details supplied), which is currently the only financial institution in Ireland that offers a suitable loan linked directly to the graduate-entry medical course, will no longer offer this service from 3 July 2022; if he will provide details of the other options available to students struggling to afford the €16,000 fees for the graduate-entry medical course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20557/22]
View answer1207. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a bank (details supplied) will cancel its loan system for students of graduate-entry medicine; if he has engaged with universities on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20614/22]
View answer1216. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there are plans to source an alternative financial lender for general-entry medicine students following the announcement by Bank of Ireland that it will discontinue its general-entry medicine loan; if not, if the Government will put in place a loan scheme to maintain the number of medical graduates in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20736/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1190, 1192, 1193, 1196, 1199, 1202, 1206, 1207 and 1216 together.
The loans available for GEM students are private arrangements between the relevant lenders and the students applying for such loans. Notwithstanding this position the Department has been made aware of reports regarding the specific loan scheme for graduate entry medicine and is seeking further information on this issue.
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. 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 graduate entry medicine (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). In academic year 20/21 the state contribution was €11,524 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student.
Institutions participating in the graduate medical programme have been requested to provide accompanying services and supports to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged students in the programme.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may also be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
