Written answers
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Department of Education and Science
Third Level Fees
10:00 am
Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 586: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to a query regarding fees in third level institutions (details supplied). [27871/10]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Initiative the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study which are a minimum of two years duration in an approved institution. The main conditions are that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Students with official refugee status in the State who meet the criteria of the scheme may also be considered under the Free Fees Initiative.
Under the terms of the scheme, a student is not eligible for free tuition fees in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not free fees applied previously. This rule will not be affected by the Student Support Bill. Where students do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Free Fees initiative such students must pay the appropriate tuition fee as determined by the third level institution. Such institutions are autonomous bodies and, as such, the level of fees to be charged in such cases is a matter for the institutions. In that regard, Section 473A, of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education in the State and any other E.U. Member State.
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