Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a student who is eligible for a means tested student support grant, attending a university or institute of technology, does not have to pay college registration charges or student charges, where students in the same situation attending a post leaving certificate course have to pay such registration and student charges; if her attention has been drawn to this fact; the action she will take in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16416/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes, three at third level, the Higher Education Grants (HEG) Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' (VEC) Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees (TLT) and one for students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLC).

Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

Third Level Institutions have a Student Services Charge/ Registration Charge which is currently €825 per annum per student. This charge is levied by the institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and student services. All students who are eligible for a means tested student support grant have the student charge paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education Committees, in addition to any maintenance grant and tuition fee grant to which they are entitled.

As the provision of Post Leaving Certificate courses is fully funded by the State, no additional charges in the nature of the Student Service Charge at third level, should arise for the student.

Under my Department's student maintenance grant schemes, I am committed to ongoing improvements in the student support schemes including increasing the rates and income limits, as resources permit.