Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the regulations regarding residency here and eligibility for the free fee scheme for third level students. [9199/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the date in relation to the residency regulations for the free fee schemes from when the residency is calculated. [9200/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 264 together.

Under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Initiative the exchequer meets the tuition fees of full-time eligible students. The main conditions are that students must (a) be first-time undergraduates; (b) hold E.U. nationality: and (c) have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Students with official refugee status in Ireland and who have three years residency in Ireland (from official date of lodgement of application for refugee status) may also be considered under the Free Fees Initiative.

Eligibility is determined at date of entry to the course of study. The third level institutions are autonomous bodies and, as such, may determine the level of fees to be charged in any cases where the Free Fees Initiative does not apply.