Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the same child care level 7 course in Carlow IT and GMIT is being offered to students at different fee rates and a training centre (details supplied) is funding Carlow IT for this course and not GMIT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9694/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Skillnets is an enterprise-led agency, where groups of private sector companies come together to provide solutions to identified training needs. One of the networks funded under the Skillnets Training Networks Programme is the Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet. The Skillnet offers a Level 7 BA Degree in Early Childhood Education and Care. The course was developed in partnership with member companies of the Carlow Kilkenny Skillnet, together with Carlow IT, with whom the network has developed a strong working relationship as part of its local stakeholder collaborations.

Skillnets is mandated to provide certified programmes such as this through its enterprise-led training networks model. Skillnets programmes are subsidised, and again this aspect is central to the Skillnets mandate which is to encourage enterprise participation in workforce development. Skillnets has no involvement in the provision of a similar course via Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

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.