Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 567: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that students registering for PLC courses who have been sanctioned for full maintenance Grants by the respective vocational educational committees are asked to pay additional fees in certain Institute of Technology colleges; if her further attention has been drawn to the difficulties that these charges can cause for families who have already been deemed under the threshold for grant purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33389/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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My Department extended the provision of maintenance grants to PLC students with effect from September 1998. Almost 8,000 students attending PLC courses in 2005 received maintenance grants amounting to a total of €23 million in direct support. There is no provision for payment of fees under the maintenance grants scheme for students attending PLC courses as generally fees for PLC courses are waived.

Where students are receiving certification from non FETAC awarding bodies they may be required to pay for registration charges and examination fees by these professional bodies. Such fees are a matter for these professional bodies and students are advised of them by the provider before registration.