Vol. 492 No. 7
61 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he has to extend the free fees initiative to include evening students (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14880/98]
Under the free fees initiative, the State meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges. This cost the Exchequer some £77 million in 1997. It was necessary to adopt this approach because the resources available to fund this measure are limited.
The latest available figures in relation to part-time students are those in respect of the 1995-96 academic year when there were some 22,000 part-time students at third-level. Thus the extension of the free fees initiative would involve substantial additional expenditure.
Any proposal to extend the free fees initiative to these students would have to have regard to the availability of resources and other competing needs in the education sector. I would hope that, as resources become available, it will be possible to provide more Exchequer support for third level undergraduate students attending courses on a part-time basis.
In their report, the Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education, referred to the profile of part-time students and noted that almost 90 per cent were in employment. In this context, I would point out that tax relief is available, at the standard rate under section 15 of the Finance Act, 1996 for tuition fees paid by eligible students who are attending approved part-time third level courses.
