Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 323: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he is committed to ensuring the proper and fair dispersion of the student services charge by third and fourth level educational institutions throughout Ireland; if he will guarantee that all the moneys collected through the student service charge are invested in student services and not used to pay down institutional debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21369/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The student services charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. The charge, which is €825 in the current academic year, does not represent the total allocation towards student services from institutions' budgets. As the Institutions are autonomous, they determine the internal disbursal of funding, including funding of student services. Students who are eligible for means tested student support have the charge paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or the VECs, in addition to any maintenance grant and tuition fee grant to which they are entitled. The Higher Education Authority issued a Framework of Good Practice for the Provision of Student Services to the publicly funded Higher Education institutions in 1998. Particular reference was made to the principles of transparency and accountability. The framework consists of guidelines to establish an appropriate system of consultation with students in the allocation of funding from the charge and the determination of student services to be funded from this source. The HEA has periodically written to all institutions to remind them of their function in relation to the student services charge and requesting confirmation that correct procedures are in place, in accordance with the framework of good practice. I understand from the HEA that it recently wrote again to all institutions in relation to the charge reminding them of the framework. I am satisfied that the HEA considers, generally, that the framework has operated quite well in the sector.