Written answers

Wednesday, 28 April 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Third Level Fees

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

758. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a situation that has arisen in which non-national leaving certificate students hoping to progress to further and higher education in 2021 may not be entitled to free fees due to the limits on consular and embassy assistance as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which prevent them from renewing their passports; the options available to students that are in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21669/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, the Exchequer pays tuition fees on behalf of eligible students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department’s Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the separate residency and nationality/citizenship requirements.

Students must hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss/UK nationality or certain permission to reside in the state as granted by the Minister for Justice in their own right. The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative in individual cases is a matter for each institution to determine within the terms of the scheme, therefore the evidence of nationality must be acceptable by the institution in question.

My department does not have a role in determining nationality or prescribing acceptable forms of proof of nationality as provided by other states. 

For students wishing to attend higher education on the basis of a permission to remain in the State provided by the Minister for Justice, I understand that details of extensions to permissions, online renewal processes and the application process for permissions generally are available on the INIS website.

In general I encourage all higher education institutions to have a responsive approach to student needs wherever possible and it is important to acknowledge that most HEIs have to date shown enormous willingness to be responsive in numerous ways during the pandemic. I would encourage all institutions to engage with students in relation to any issues, including any delay in receiving updated documents from their respective national authorities.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.