Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way in which revenue raised by the forthcoming increase in third level registration fees will be spent; the reason, if extra revenues are being raised by the third level sector, that there was no commensurate increase in third level funding in budget 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38015/08]

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. This charge of €900 for 2008/09 academic year does not represent the total allocation made towards student services from institutions' budgets.

As announced in the budget, the third level funding allocations take account of expected increases in the student services charge in 2009. In this regard, the Government is willing to accept increases of up to €1,500 (from €900) for the 2009/10 academic year in individual higher education institutions. Accordingly the increase in the charge would have the effect of bringing the amount contributed by students more into line with the cost of providing 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. This represents approx. 37% of the student cohort.

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.