Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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208. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason charges of over €3,000 have recently been imposed on asylum seekers residing in direct provision centres by the Cork Education and Training Board in respect of PLC courses; the basis for applying such charges in view of the fact that no charges were previously applied; if other further education institutes have applied the charges; the details of those that have; the number of students from whom the charges have been sought; and if the decision will be reviewed in view of the exceptionally limited income profile of this cohort of students. [41920/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Access for eligible international protection applicants to the majority of further education and training programmes is free of charge, but international fees continue to apply for Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programmes and higher education courses.

Arrangements in relation to payment of international fees for international protection applicants have not changed since 2001. PLC colleges are responsible for collecting the 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 international fee for PLC programmes.

My Department announced last month the continuation of the Pilot Student Support Scheme for those in the international protection system for the 2018/19 academic year. This pilot scheme was first introduced in 2015/16, and provides supports, including meeting any fee costs, in line with the current Student Grant Scheme. The scheme applies to eligible students pursuing PLC programmes and undergraduate courses. To qualify for the scheme, applicants need to have spent 5 years in the Irish school system and have completed the leaving certificate.

Enrolment numbers in relation to academic year 2018/19 are not yet available. However, The number of learners who indicated that they were international protection applicants on commencement of PLC programmes in September 2017 for the academic year 2017/2018 was 19, as reported by the PLC providers.