Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 16 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 6

Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.

John Browne

Ceist:

30 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to review the conditions of third-level grants to eliminate anomalies, for example, the case of a person who has completed first year study in a regional college is barred from getting fees for first year in university in the same faculty, whereas, the reverse situation of doing first year in university does not debar a person getting fees for first year in the regional college. [16591/97]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The situation referred to by the Deputy arises from the different criteria applied to entitlements under the free fees initiative on the one hand and the ESF-aided middle level technician and higher technical/business skills programmes on the other.

The ESF-aided middle level technician programme consists of one or two courses up to national certificate level and the higher technical/business skills programme consists of three year national diploma and one year "add-on" diploma level courses. The programmes apply to those who require higher level initial education and training to enhance their employment prospects. In general, free tuition is granted for the approved duration of one ESF-aided course only. However, subject to a maximum duration of four years in all trainees who having, passed, failed or not completed the first year of a course are allowed to transfer to a different course and receive a grant for the normal duration of the new course. Trainees who have completed not more than the first year of a degree level course are eligible to receive free tuition for a maximum of three years on an ESF-aided MLT/HTBS course. These regulations governing the payment of tuition fees for ESF-aided MLT and HTBS courses form part of the Operational Programme for Human Resources and are part of the Community Support Framework 1994-99.

The position in relation to the free fees initiative, is that tuition fees are payable in respect of students attending full-time undergraduate courses, other than ESF-aided courses, which are other than exceptionally, of at least two years duration. In practice, other than in certain arts and science courses, the duration of undergraduate courses covered by the initiative is four years. Indeed, in some cases the courses may be of five and six years duration. Free fees are not payable in respect of students repeating a year or repeating at the same year level except in the case of second chance students who return to college after a break of five years and students who due to exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness, did not complete their course year.

If the regulations applying to the ESF-aided courses were to be applied to the free fees initiative, students who complete the first year of an ESF-aided course and then pursue a four year degree course, would receive free fees only for the first three years of the degree course. Under the criteria applying to the free fees initiative, such students would not receive funding for the first year of their degree course but would receive funding for the remaining three years of the course.

In the circumstances, I do not propose to amend the criteria for the free fees initiative. However, I will keep this matter under review.