Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the value of the college registration fee; and the provisions he has made in the pre budget estimates for changing this charge. [45152/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the student services charge is levied by third level institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and students services. The range of student services in question may include such facilities as on-campus medical and counselling facilities for students, access and disability services, careers office services, student facilities, student clubs and societies. All students who are eligible for means tested grants have the charge paid on their behalf by the Local Authorities or VECs. As already announced, the Government indicated that it was prepared to accept increases in the level of this charge for the academic year 2009/10 to bring it to a limit of €1,500 in individual higher education institutions.

The student services charge is collected by each individual institution and up to date accounts are not available for all institutions. However the estimated revenue generated by the institutions in the 2008/09 academic year from the charge at €900 is some €107 million.

Currently, the student services charge is decided annually by third-level institutions in consultation with the Higher Education Authority and my Department. Any change in the level of this charge would be considered where the increase is intended to bring the amount contributed by students into line with the costs of the range of students services provided.