Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the situation regarding the payment of registration fees in third level colleges for families who do not qualify for a grant; her plans to encourage universities to allow for payments of these fees in instalments over a set period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32148/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Student Services Charge is levied by the Higher Education institutions to defray the costs of examinations, registration and student services. All students who are eligible under the means tested student support schemes do not have to pay this charge. The charge is paid on their behalf under my Department's student grant schemes by the Local Authorities or the Vocational Education Committees in addition to any maintenance grant and tuition fee grant they are entitled to.

The position is that the Higher Education institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs, for which the Governing Bodies and the management staff of the institutions are responsible. The arrangements for the collection of the charge are a matter for each individual institution and accordingly I do not have a role in this matter. However, I am confident that higher education institutions are dealing with students on this matter in a sensitive and compassionate manner.

Students in need of help due to particular financial hardship may apply to the Access Officer in their institution for support from the Student Assistance Fund.