Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider abolishing the capitation fee for graduate-entry medical students, taking into account the fact that they are not eligible for maintenance grants and many are struggling financially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20989/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand this question relates to the introduction of the new Student Contribution Charge. The Programme for Government commits the Government to implementing the decisions of the 2011 Budget which was passed by the last Dáil, including the introduction of a Student Contribution Charge of €2,000 with effect from the academic year 2011/12.

As the Deputy may be aware a prerequisite for entry to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programmes is an Upper Second or First Class Honours Bachelor's degree in any discipline, in addition to which applicants must sit the GAMSAT admissions test. GEM students are liable for the cost of their tuition fees, which are set by each individual institution. However the fees of EU students are partly subsidised by the Irish State through the Higher Education Authority. For the 2010/11 academic year this subsidy amounted to €11,800 per student.

Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as amended by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2011, 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 including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in E.U. Member States and in non- EU countries. Details are available on the Revenue Commissioners' website at www.revenue.ie.