Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
699. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if in view of the large requirement for doctors in Ireland, he intends including students undertaking the graduate entry medicine programme in the free third-level fees initiative and making them eligible for undergraduate SUSI level grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52937/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra700. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide funding to students that want to undertake graduate entry medicine programmes available in several Irish universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52958/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 700 together.
The fee payable by a student can vary depending on a variety factors including the type of course and the student's access route including previous education. Entry to medicine in Irish HEIs is provided through both undergraduate and graduate entry routes.
Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative (FFI), the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible first time undergraduate students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including previous education attainment.
Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.
Students accessing graduate entry medicine (GEM) will, as a matter of course, hold a level 8 qualification prior to entry and completion of a graduate entry medicine degree confers a further level 8 qualification. In this regards Students pursuing GEM programmes do so as second degree courses and consequently are not eligible for free fees funding or for student grants.
My Department currently has no plans to provide free fees funding for second degree courses under the FFI.
In order to widen access to GEM programmes, and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU students are partly subsidised by the State via the HEA. In academic year 20/21 the state contribution is €11,524 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student.
Higher Education Institutions are autonomous bodies and are responsible for their own day-to-day management and operational affairs, including the management of academic affairs. They retain the right to determine their own policies and procedures. The total level of fees to be charged in the case of GEM fees are therefore solely a matter for the relevant institution to determine in line with its own criteria.
Institutions participating in the graduate medical programme have been requested to provide accompanying services and supports to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged students in the programme. Details of these services and supports are available from the relevant institution.
The Programme for Government contains commitments to, among other things, review SUSI eligibility criteria, adjacency rates and postgraduate grant supports. On foot of these commitments approval was given to commence a review of the Student Grant Scheme. The review is being conducted by external consultants. It is anticipated that the SUSI review will be completed later this year and will inform policy priorities and future considerations regarding the development of student grant policy.
Students on graduate entry medicine courses may be eligible to apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) for financial support. The SAF guidelines provide that students with a previous higher education qualification at the same NFQ level, or who, in the past, attended higher education without ultimately obtaining a qualification, may be considered for support on a case-by-case basis and subject to available funding.
In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie
In conclusion there are significant policy, legislative and funding considerations, as well as wider implications for other graduate entry courses, to the current treatment of graduate entry medicine course. These are subject to consideration, including as part of the annual Estimates process, as part of the ongoing consideration of student supports.
