Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 45: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will commit to ensuring the proper dispersion of the student services charge by higher education institutions; and if he will guarantee that all moneys collected through the student services charge will be invested in student services and not used to pay down institutional debt. [26340/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The student services charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. The charge was €825 for the 2007/08 academic year. I should point out that the charge does not represent the total allocation towards student services from institutions budgets. The Institutions are autonomous bodies and as such determine the internal disbursal of funding, including funding of student services.

All students who are eligible for means tested student support 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 they are entitled to.

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) 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 in 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 the Authority recently wrote once again to all institutions in relation to the charge reminding them of this Framework.

I am satisfied that the HEA considers, generally, that the Framework has operated quite well in the sector.