Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether it is fair that students taking courses (details supplied) should effectively have to pay double fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45549/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees of full-time eligible undergraduate students. I understand that the issue relates to the payment of a fee to cover particular services provided by the College, such as the provision of meals, stationery etc. which do not form part of the student contribution payable by students.

The position is that the third level 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. Accordingly I do not have a role in this matter.