Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a new €200 financial contribution to the post-leaving certificate programmes was introduced in the last budget; if his Department notified all participants of this extra cost; if there are exemptions or waivers for those who cannot afford to pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19066/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2011 provided for the introduction of a €200 annual Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme participant contribution. This was introduced at the start of the 2011/2012 academic year and the same charge has applied each year since then.

Full medical card holders (in their own right and their dependent children), those eligible under the student grant scheme and those in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) or Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) allowances are exempt from paying the contribution.