Micheál Martin
Ceist:19 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she intends to extend the free tuition fees scheme for third level undergraduate students to students attending the Royal College of Surgeons. [16436/95]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (Resumed). - Third Level Fees.
Peadar Clohessy
Ceist:75 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Education if she intends to extend free fees to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; the plans, if any, she has to confer on the RCSI the same status as other third level institutes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16287/95]
Michael McDowell
Ceist:111 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish students studying medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland will continue to pay education fees notwithstanding that the college is a third level NUI affiliated college and will be entering the CAO admission system next year; and if she will make a statement regarding her intentions in relation to tuition fees at the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland. [16657/95]
John Ellis
Ceist:127 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Education if her Department will include the RCSI in the free fees initiative. [16078/95]
Paul McGrath
Ceist:128 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Education the reason the Royal College of Surgeons has been excluded from the third level abolition of fees scheme. [16250/95]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:129 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to eliminate anomalies in relation to the categories of third level students to be granted free tuition in view of the fact that certain colleges (details supplied) included in the scheme are effectively private whereas the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, which was founded as a charity and in fact loses money on its medical side each year, is excluded from the scheme. [16280/95]
Seán Haughey
Ceist:130 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Education if she will extend the free third level fees scheme to students of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. [16319/95]
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:132 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education if students attending the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are the only medical students excluded from the scheme introduced this year to abolish third level fees in two phases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16509/95]
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:133 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education the basis on which the Royal College of Surgeon's in Ireland is excluded from the scheme introduced this year to levy only half the fees on students attending third level colleges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16510/95]
Trevor Sargent
Ceist:134 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education her views on the inequitable situation where the Royal College of Surgeons is excluded from the fee abolition scheme pertaining in other colleges in spite of the fact that this college also partakes in the CAO procedures and is a non-profit making organisation. [16550/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 75, 111, 127, 128, 129, 130, 132, 133 and 134 together.
In deciding on the application of the free fees initiative I must have regard to the cost implications as well as criteria which require institutions to be recognised for the purposes of third level student support and to be part of the CAO entry system.
The Royal College of Surgeons is not at present part of the CAO entry system. The college has indicated its intention to join the CAO system but I understand that the earliest academic year in which it could participate in the system at this stage would be 1997-98.
It would also be necessary to consider the implications of extending the initiative in the context of the existing quota on medical places. My Department is arranging to meet representatives of the college at an early date to discuss these issues.
Is this not discriminating against students attending the Royal College of Surgeons, given that it is an NUI affiliated college and that it intends to become part of the CAO system and that students attending it avail of the higher education grants scheme? It seems a major anomaly that students who are entitled to apply under the higher education grants scheme will not be entitled to avail of the free fees scheme which generally has been applied and extended to such students. What is the actual cost of bringing these students within the ambit of the scheme?
The college is not part of the CAO scheme, although it has indicated an interest in it and the Department is meeting with it. Of course it is a recognised college and the courses are recognised for education grants. It is designated under the Higher Education Authority Act and was in receipt of State funding until 1992. The college charges an average fee of £3,400 to Irish students and £13,750 to other EU students. The level of fees which the Exchequer would pay to the Royal College of Surgeons would be fixed at £2,450. That would be for all European Union students. There is also the question of the quota of places for medical students.
Will the Minister give a costing for the inclusion of Royal College of Surgeons students from the EU in the scheme? Similar arguments were made by the Minister in relation to the Milltown Institute, Mater Dei, All Hallows and the Pontifical University early last year and it took some considerable political pressure to change that and a campaign organised by the students of those colleges. A similar campaign is being launched by the students of the Royal College of Surgeons. At all the other colleges concessions were made and they were brought within the remit of the free fees scheme. Schemes such as this are fundamentally targeted at the student, not the institute. Whatever technical or bureaucratic shortcomings may exist in the institutions in terms of membership of the CAO system, the question still remains about the students who attend this college, particularly students who are in difficult financial circumstances. We know that 29 students at the Royal College of Surgeons avail of the higher education grants scheme and clearly they could do with the extension of the scheme and feel discriminated against. Concessions were made to a number of private colleges with the exception of the Royal College of Surgeons.
The Royal College of Surgeons is not in the CAO entry system. It has indicated its intention to come into the system in the academic year 1997-98. There are two problems. First is the quota of medical places. Second is that while I was able to give the striking difference in fees between Irish students and students of the European Union it might help the Deputy if I were to come back with a breakdown of the 156 students being trained there at present. The Deputy could then do some multiplication sums.
With respect, the Minister should have calculated this before coming into the House as she has the resources of the Department behind her.