Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 3

Written Answers - Third Level Fees.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

256 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to extend free fees to evening courses (details supplied); and the reason it was not indicated that courses which are included on the Central Applications Office list do not qualify for free fees. [18128/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

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. More than 37,000 students were covered by this initiative in 1996-7 at a cost to the Exchequer of some £77 million in 1997. Any extension of the initiative would have to be considered in the light of overall resource constraints.

The latest available figures in relation to part-time students are those in respect of the 1996 academic year when there were some 22,000 part-time students at third level. In this regard, the profile of part-time students considered by the steering committee on the future development of higher education, indicated that almost 90 per cent of part-time students were in employment. In this context I would point out that, under section 15 of the Finance Act, 1996, as amended by section 7 of the Finance Act, 1997, tax relief is available, at the standard rate, for tuition fees paid by eligible students who are attending approved part-time third level courses. The course in question is included in the list of courses so approved.

I would also point out that not all courses listed in the CAO handbook quality for free fees. I understand the CAO handbook draws the attention of prospective applicants to the need to find out before applying whether the course they wish to apply for qualifies for free fees. Only students in institutions which have been approved for the purposes of the free fees initiative and who meet the eligibility criteria qualify for free fees.