Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if asylum seekers residing in direct provision centres are now being charged international student rates of €3,650 in respect of PLC courses; the basis for introducing such charges and making this change of policy; and if the decision will be reviewed in view of the exceptionally limited income profile of this cohort of students. [38144/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Access to PLC provision for eligible international protection applicants is subject to the payment of the full economic fee. This is broadly in line with arrangements in the higher education sector.

Arrangements in relation to payment of the full economic fee for international protection applicants have not changed since 2001 and it is the responsibility of each individual course provider to collect this fee.

More broadly, the Government decision to opt in to the EU (recast) Receptions Conditions Directive (2013/22/EU) has given international protection applicants, who have been waiting 9 months or more for a first instance recommendation, access to all aspects of further education and training. While this modifies some of the earlier arrangements regarding access, it does not change the situation regarding the payment of the full economic fee for PLC programmes.