Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2018
224. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Irish citizens living outside the EU for over three years must pay non-EU rates of fees for undergraduate courses; if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied). [48921/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, with regard to payment of non-EU rates of fees, the criteria for eligibility are detailed in the Student Support Act 2011. Section 14 (4) states that for the purposes of the Act , a student is a person who has been resident in the State for at least 3 years out of the previous 5 years. If a student has not been resident in the state for three of the previous five years then they do not qualify under the Act for EU fee rates.
However, the specific case raised by the Deputy refers to a person attending a further education college rather than a higher education institution. As a result, my officials are examining the circumstances in this case with the relevant Education and Training Board. I will respond to the Deputy directly once matters have been clarified.
