Vol. 399 No. 8
3 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that the National Distance Education Centre, based at Dublin City University, has reached agreement with the Open University to provide degree courses, she intends to provide subsidies for students as is done in Britain; the plans she has to assist in the extension of this service to as many provincial locations as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The National Distance Education Council have the task of establishing and co-ordinating a national distance education service in this country and the agreement between the council and the Open University will assist in the expansion of the service. Various third-level institutions countrywide have been active participants in the service to date and the council will be giving consideration to expanding the range of centres in line with the expansion of courses. I have no immediate plans to introduce student subsidies in relation to the distance education programme.
We are talking here about second chance education, at a time when there is very high unemployment. Housewives and others could benefit from this type of education. In order to obtain a degree from the Open University, six module credits are required and each of those costs about £465 sterling, which is way beyond the reach of the unemployed. As the applications for these courses are to be submitted by 14 September this year, with a view to the first module starting in February next year, I would earnestly request the Minister to consider providing subsidies which would make it possible for unemployed people, housewives and so on to take up these courses. Adult education——
Sorry, Deputy O'Shea, as the time for dealing with priority questions is fast running out I would appeal again for brevity.
Basically I am asking the Minister to reconsider her decision not to provide subsidies to students who wish to take these courses.
Nobody could quibble with the thrust of the Deputy's request, but there is no finance available in the current year for such an arrangement. In Britain unemployed students under the open university programme may be considered for a deferral of fees or for a local authority grant but I understand that system is changing rapidly as a result of the proposals from the UK Government about student loans. While the Deputy's request is very worthy, any concessions in this matter would lead to pressure in respect of distance education courses generally. As the higher education grants scheme and the ESF funding of third-level colleges is currently running at a high rate, I do not honestly think we would be able to provide these subsidies in the present economic climate.
If it is those in well paid employment who will benefit from these courses — which obviously would be the case — it is a very retrograde step. I would ask the Minister to look at savings and possibly introduce a supplementary estimate to deal with the matter. This whole question is so vital and fundamental that it warrants that type of approach.
I quibble with the statement that distance education will only be available to those in high paid employment. There are various factors involved such as location, domestic reasons, employment commitments etc. There are all sorts of programmes such as modules, part-time and full-time programmes. The issue will be reconsidered. The Deputy has asked that these subsidies be provided from September next. It is certainly not envisaged that they would be provided in the current year.
Question No. 4 postponed.
