Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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922. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) who is attending Pallaskenry Agricultural College and as part of the course has to attend Limerick IT for three hours per week has to pay the student registration charge in LIT of €2,750 on top of full fees at the agricultural college; the basis for this arrangement between the colleges and her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41944/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware the exchequer funds tuition fee costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study under my Department's Free Fees Initiative. Students who qualify for free fees funding are liable to pay the student contribution which, for students who qualify under my Department's Student Grant Scheme, is paid on their behalf by the State.

I understand that the fee payment referred to covers particular services provided by Pallaskenry Agricultural 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 have no role in relation to this matter.