Albert Reynolds
Ceist:572 Mr. A. Reynolds asked the Minister for Education if fees for the pharmaceutical technicians PLC course at Coláiste Íde have been abolished. [14416/97]
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.
The first year of the pharmaceutical technician course is aided by the European Social Fund as a post leaving certificate course and is pursued in Coláiste Íde, Finglas. The remainder of the course consists of six months practical work experience with the final six months taking place in Trinity College, Dublin.
Fees for PLC courses were abolished with effect from September 1995 and there is no tuition charge for this element of the programme. The third level free fees initiative applies to full-time undergraduate courses at approved third level institutions, which are generally of at least two years duration. The pharmaceutical technician course is not eligible under these criteria in that Coláiste Íde, Finglas is not a third level institution and the Trinity College element of the programme is of less than two year's duration.