Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)

Marino Institute of Education, MIE, based in my constituency, is a teacher training college funded by the Department of education. It produces world class educators who work in Ireland and abroad. I think the Tánaiste visited there in times past. However, MIE has two courses that do not qualify under the free fees initiative - the bachelor of science in education studies and the bachelor of science in early childhood education. This is fundamentally unfair and puts MIE at a financial disadvantage. The issue seems to relate to the fact MIE is funded by the Department of education and not the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, that is, the HEA process. As a former Minister for higher education, the Tánaiste has a bit of direct know-how here and skin in the game. Can he direct departmental officials to rectify this unfair anomaly please?

See this speech in context