Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a cost analysis has been carried out on the decision to amend the trinity tutorial allowance preventing payment to new applicants for providing the service, under direction of his Department, in view of the fact that such a move is feared to lead to the abolition of the service which is instrumental in the provision of student welfare; if not, if such an analysis will be completed to highlight the savings and or costs of amending this scheme while also keeping in mind student welfare and provision for such. [11915/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Remuneration for university staff is regulated by the Universities Act 1997. The Act requires that all forms of remuneration, including allowances, are approved by the Minister of Education and Skills with the consent of the Minister for Finance. Trinity College did not at any time have sanction to pay the Tutor's allowance and the University has been directed to permanently cease the payment of the unauthorised allowance with effect from July 2013. The cost saving in the following academic year resulting from the cessation of the Tutor's allowance is in the order of €320,000 based on the number of Tutors currently receiving the allowance. This figure does not include 19 tutors appointed to the role after 1st February 2012 who have not been in receipt of an allowance. My Department has not directed Trinity College to cease the operation of the Tutor system and the University is free to continue to provide this service to students without the extra payment.