Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Feb 2002

Vol. 548 No. 2

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Brian O'Shea

Ceist:

472 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science the assistance he will give to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford regarding the payment of university fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4745/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

: Under the terms of my Department's free fees initiative, the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending approved full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration at approved colleges.

Eligibility under the initiative is subject to a number of conditions. For example, students who are repeating a year are generally not eligible for funding. Based on criteria issued by my Department, the third level institutions make decisions regarding eligibility under the free fees initiative. These institutions do not refer individual queries to my Department except in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular condition in the criteria is desired. It appears that no such advice or instruction has, to date, been sought in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy.

Where an institution has not extended the benefit of the free fees initiative to an individual student, and the student is of the view that the free fees criteria have not been interpreted correctly in his or her case, a letter outlining the position may be sent to my Department. Alternatively, as already indicated, the institution itself may, in exceptional circumstances, seek clarification on an issue from my Department.

Universities are autonomous institutions and, where a student is not eligible to benefit under the free fees initiative, issues relating to the payment of tuition fees are a matter for the university concerned.