Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if third level institutions reserve the right to refuse to issue students with letters confirming their non-attendance at that institution for a particular academic year in the circumstance that the particular student has outstanding fee liabilities with the institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46488/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be 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.

The position is that the higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and therefore the day to day operation of the institution, including issues surrounding the collection and administration of the Student Contribution and relevant action where there are outstanding debts, are matters for the Governing Authority of each institution.