Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to introduce a new system of means-tested free fees for approved part-time courses. [18497/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce a new system of means-tested free fees for approved part-time courses will be considered over the life time of the Government. In relation to the commitment on part time fees in paragraph 7.9 of Towards 2016, my Department and the HEA have initiated the process of developing proposals for a targeted fund, to be financed from the National Training Fund, to support workers pursuing part-time courses at third level in public institutions. In developing criteria for the operation of the fund regard will be given to the following objectives:

targeting people in work who have not had the opportunity to pursue third level education previously to level 8 on the National Qualifications Framework;

reducing the amount of fees that workers pay;

maintaining the current benefits in relation to employer support and tax relief available to workers in respect of third level fees; and

allowing for a part refund to be paid on successful completion of each academic year of the relevant course.

The criteria for accessing the fund will be developed in close consultation with other stakeholders. My Department will be initiating these consultations in the coming weeks.