Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the complete range of financial supports available for students entering the graduate medicine programme [33661/12]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the significant impact the increase in fees payable for graduate entry to medicine and the withdrawal by AIB of the graduate student loan package for graduate students will have on the viability of graduate entry medicine for many students; if he is considering any measures to offset these obstacles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33011/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 151 together.

Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of tuition fees charged for their Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programmes, is a matter for the institutions themselves to determine. Accordingly I have no role in the matter. The prerequisite for entry to GEM programmes is an Upper Second or First Class Honours Bachelor's degree in any discipline. GEM students therefore are pursuing a second undergraduate degree and are not eligible for free fees or for student grants. However in order to widen access the fees of EU students are partly subsidised by the State through the Higher Education Authority. For the 2011/12 academic year this subsidy amounted to €11,000 per EU student. In addition the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides tax relief, at the standard rate, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses. I appreciate that for individual students having to meet those fees can be difficult and therefore it is a matter of regret if the loan package in question has been withdrawn by the bank.