Vol. 573 No. 1
196 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) will be given the maximum advice, sup port and financial assistance in order to complete a third level course; and if something practical will be done about a disgraceful ?9,000 fee as a matter of priority. [24552/03]
Under the current regulations governing the payment of fees for certificate and diploma programmes in institutes of technology, my Department meets the tuition fees of students who hold EU nationality or, in the case of non-EU nationals, who have either been granted official refugee status or who have been granted humanitarian leave to remain in the State and who have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course.
The rate of tuition fee charged by individual third level institutions, where students are not eligible under the free fees initiative, is a matter for each institution to determine on an autonomous basis. The classification of a student as an EU or non-EU applicant is a matter for each institution to determine in this regard. In view of this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the management authorities of the Dublin Institute of Technology for direct response to the Deputy.
