Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1438. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a full list of all approved undergraduate courses for applications under SUSI provided within the State to which the free fees scheme does not apply. [36514/23]
View answerThe Student Grant Scheme 2023 is a legislative scheme under Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science made pursuant to the Student Support Act 2011. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions. Details of all approved courses are listed on SUSI.ie.
The Free Fees Initiative (FFI) is an administrative scheme under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). Under the FFI, tuition fees may be paid in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions. Details of the free fees schemes are at the following location: hea.ie/funding-governance-performance/funding/student-finance/course-fees/.
The free fees approved institutions are primarily the publicly funded higher education institutions funded through the HEA: hea.ie/higher-education-institutions/?intro=funding . Within this category of provider, it is the Higher Education Institutions themselves, as autonomous institutions that establish courses or remove programmes that meet the relevant criteria to be included under the free fees schemes and the institutions that maintain the listing of free fees courses. A central list of courses within these institutions, approved for both the student grant scheme and the free fees schemes is not readily available.
Separately, under the free fees schemes, there are certain not-for-profit private institutions which are in receipt of free fees funding for certain programmes where specific learning or skills needs have been identified. The Deputy may wish to note that each of these courses is approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023.
Additionally, there are certain full time CAO undergraduate courses provided by not-for-profit private institutions approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 that are not approved under the Free Fees Schemes (see list below). The Student Grant Regulations prescribe that an approved course is a full-time course leading to a major higher education and training award which takes a minimum of two years to complete in an approved institution. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Article 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Article 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2023.
It should be noted that both the list of courses in private institutions which are in receipt of free fees funding and the list of courses in private institutions which are approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 are subject to change and, as such, the below list represents the situation at this point in time.
List of Undergraduate courses provided by not-for-profit private institutions approved under the Student Grant Scheme 2023 that are not approved under the Free Fees Initiative
National College of Ireland, Dublin
Psychology
Early Childhood Education and Care
Marino Institute of Education, Dublin
Education Studies
Early Childhood Education
St. Nicholas Montessori College
— B.Ed. in Montessori Education (Level 7)
— B.Ed. in Montessori Education (Level 8)
— B.A. (Hons) in Montessori Education (Level 8)
