Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would once again emphasise that stipend payments were paid to students only in respect of time when they were actually present on the course. Where a student missed classes, the stipend payments payable to him or her were reduced accordingly. It was also the case that stipend and accommodation payments ceased as soon as a student left the course. Furthermore, my Department has been advised by the institution responsible for the course concerned that proof of expenses was required from all students. It is understood that due to the pre-pay nature of most rented accommodation, most students had to pay for their accommodation before commencing the course and claimed the accommodation costs back subsequently.

Students who did not complete the course may have been unable to do so for a variety of reasons, ranging from illness or personal circumstances beyond their control, to failing to achieve the required standard. In such circumstances, the rationale and indeed the fairness of penalising students by seeking the refund of stipends and/or accommodation costs is not clear.