Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be taken to include courses (details supplied) as approved free-fees courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53620/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Free Fees Initiative, tuition fees are paid in respect of eligible full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions.

Free Fees funding has been extended to a limited number of courses in not-for-profit private institutions, where specific learning or skills needs have been identified. In Marino Institute of Education, Free Fees approved courses, funded through the Department of Education, include the Bachelor in Education (Primary) and Bachelor in Education (Primary through the medium of Irish).

Marino Institute of Education has sought Free Fees approved status for two additional courses established by the Institute. These are the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor of Science in Education Studies.

It is important to note that, as a private institution, the development of a course by Marino Institute of Education does not, in its own right, give rise to provision of funding from my Department or from any other Department or State agency.

In general, the extension of Free Fees funding to additional courses in private institutions only applies where a specific teaching and learning need has been identified by the Department, another Department or the HEA.

My Department has agreed to consider the application for Free Fees status for the courses under reference in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority and with other relevant Government Departments, i.e. the Department of Education and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

This will require, inter alia, consideration of the alignment of the courses with identified skills needs, the extent to which skills needs are already addressed by courses in the wider higher education system, and budgetary implications. It is aimed that our consideration will be completed by Q1 2023, ahead of the academic year 2023/24.

Approved courses under the Free Fees Initiative for 2022/23 are finalised and it is not possible to include additional courses for the current academic year.