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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Examination Fees.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

385 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason students undertaking the two year accounting technician course at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford are required to pay examination fees totalling £225 even in cases where there is entitlement to full maintenance funding; if he will review the requirement that the cost of examination fees be borne by such students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8941/00]

The course in question is a post-leaving certificate course. There are no tuition fees for PLC courses. However, students are asked to pay for books, uniforms-clothing and equipment, e.g. chef's uniform, knives, where the item purchased becomes their personal property, student services, registration charges by professional bodies and examination fees.

The charges for certification-registration with professional bodies may vary, depending on the vocational discipline covered by the course, and the certification authority involved. In this case the course is certified by the Institute of Accounting Technicians in Ireland.

The Government also introduced a means tested maintenance grants scheme for PLC students for the first time with effect from September 1998. The scheme does not cover charges for examinations, registration or certification. My Department established the National Council for Vocational Awards to provide national certification and assessment for programmes in the further education sector in 1991. A modest charge, the present fee is £25 for a full award of eight modules, and this will continue to apply for national certification from the NCVA. In view of the general availability of NCVA certification my Department has no plans to change the PLC grant scheme to cover the costs of certification from other sources.

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