Written Answers Nos. 166-169
166. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current position regarding the status of extension works approved at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12238/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware a project for the school in question is included in my Departments Five Year Construction Plan.
My Department is currently developing an accommodation brief for the project and will be in contact with the school shortly in relation to the matter.
167. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional accommodation will be provided in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kerry. [12239/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question was approved funding, on a devolved basis, for the provision of a new Resource room in January 2015 last.
However, a further application was received on the 11th March last from the school, in question, for an additional mainstream classroom. This application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.
168. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of an appeals process (details supplied). [12285/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has put in place an appeals process, by which schools or parents may appeal decisions made by NCSE Special Education Needs Organisers in respect of applications made for Special Needs Assistant or Resource Teaching support.
Details of the manner in which the NCSE Appeals Process is conducted, along with the necessary application forms, and information for schools and parents is available at www.ncse.ie.
There is no charge for appealing the decision of the Special Education Needs Organiser under this appeals process.
169. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a person (details supplied) who wants to apply for third level education here but who is currently living in the United States of America. [12286/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Exchequer funds tuition fees costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study under my Department's Free Fees Initiative. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. It is the student's own residency/nationality position that applies, rather than that of their parents/guardians.
Where full-time undergraduate students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by their third level institution. Third level institutions are autonomous bodies and it is therefore a matter for the institution to determine the rate of fee payable by students (EU or non-EU).
However, in the case of students who do not meet the residency clause, higher education institutions have been requested to charge the more moderate EU fee to EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who have completed at least five academic years of study (Primary or Post-Primary level) in the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
The entry requirements for third level education courses are determined by individual higher education institutions and the processing of applications is administered by the CAO on their behalf. Details of entry requirements and procedures for both EU and non-EU students are available on the individual institution's websites.
