John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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993. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if student fees will be refunded by the National University of Ireland Galway to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if her Department will outline the procedures and protocol to be followed by colleges, when a first-year student decides to change courses, without losing the fees already paid; if the student is notified in writing and given options; if the course of action to be taken by the college to retain fees paid is explained in writing and verbally to the student; if there is an appeal process available and if this is clearly explained to the student; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22150/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The student contribution, which currently stands at €2,750, applies to all students who benefit under my Department's Free Fees Initiative (details of which are published on www.studentfinance.ie). Under the scheme, free fees funding is not available for students undertaking a repeat period of study.

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. The collection and administration of the contribution is a matter for the third level institution to which a student is attending, however, I have requested my officials to liaise with the Higher Education Authority to establish the full details in relation to this case.