Written answers
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Department of Education and Skills
Graduate Medicine Programme
Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the difficulty medical graduate entrants are having in securing bank loans in order to complete their qualifications; if the situation is being examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48102/12]
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy may be aware Graduate Entry Medicine students are liable for the cost of their tuition fees, which are set by each individual institution. However the costs for EU students are partly subsidised by the Irish State through a state grant provided by the Higher Education Authority. For the 2012/13 academic year this amounts to €10,000 per student.
A number of financial institutions offer student loan packages that can be availed of by students which can offer more competitive rates in select disciplines such as medicine. However such arrangements are a matter for individual students and the financial institution concerned and my Department has no role in relation to the matter.
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