Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the same child care level 7 course in Carlow IT and NUIG is being offered to students at different fee rates and Skillnets is funding Carlow IT for this course and not in NUIG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7913/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Skillnets is an enterprise-led agency, where groups of private sector companies come together to provide solutions to identified training and learning needs. One of the networks funded under the Skillnets Training Networks Programme is the Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet. Four years ago, the Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet began a consultation with the local childcare industry and childcare representatives about identified skill needs/shortages for the sector. This led to the development of a new QQI accredited Level 7 BA Honours Degree in Early Childhood Education & Care. The course was developed in partnership with Carlow IT, with whom the network has developed a strong working relationship as part of its local stakeholder collaboration.

 This is a 1-year programme which has had three iterations to date, with a fourth course planned for 2017.  It has proved to be a successful programme,  with all places filled from the enterprise membership of the Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet and other neighbouring Skillnet networks. The programme development costs were borne by Carlow IT, and Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet negotiated commercial rates with Carlow IT for the programme delivery costs. The course fees for the candidate are effectively subsidised via the Skillnets grant, which incentivises both the development and delivery of industry-led learning programmes.

 While Skillnets has no involvement in the provision of a similar course via NUIG, one assumes that this is a publicly-available programme, the course fees for which are determined by NUIG.

 Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the criteria governing

the level of tuition fees to be charged in relation to third level students who do not qualify for free fees is determined by the institutions and accordingly I have no role in relation to the

matter.