Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2022
471. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason that a student (details supplied) is not entitled to the Government contribution fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61762/22]
View answerUnder my Department's Free Fees Initiative, the State pays tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, on behalf of eligible 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 the repeat period of study criteria. A key principle of the design of the free fees initiative is to encourage progression, that is, to support students in progressing through a chosen course of study from year to year.
As a result students, who have previously pursued but have not completed a course of third level study and subsequently resume third level studies, are not typically eligible for free fees for the equivalent period of time spent on the first course of study where the third level course concerned attracted exchequer funding (e.g. fees, maintenance, tax relief, subsidy towards course cost).
The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative in individual cases is a matter for each institution to determine within the terms of the scheme and it is not possible for my Department to advise on the determinations made by individual institutions. Where a student requires guidance on the determination of eligibility for free fees it is necessary that a student engage with the fees office of the institution attended.
Where students do not qualify for the Department’s free fees schemes the appropriate tuition fee payable is determined by each higher education institution as autonomous bodies.
The Deputy may wish to note that I have allocated over €17 million in funding for the Student Assistance Fund for the current academic year. This Fund provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college. 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. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.
