Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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972. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the engagement she has had with Marino Institute of Education to bring its Bachelor of Science in Education Studies and its Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education courses under the free fees initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46590/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Free Fees Initiative is an administrative scheme of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science for all approved courses, with the exception of Marino Institute of Education primary initial teacher education programmes, which are funded through the Higher Education Authority.

My Department directly provides capitation, free fees and literacy & numeracy funding to Marino Institute of Education for approved numbers on the approved primary initial teacher education programmes. This funding is provided as part of a specific arrangements in relation to these courses only and funding does not extend to courses outside the agreement.

It is open to Marino Institute of Education to offer additional courses outside those approved for funding under the primary initial teacher education programmes. The establishment of such courses does not give rise to the provision of funding by my Department.

I understand that the extension of free fees funding to additional courses in higher education institutions would be a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, the HEA or other Government Departments/Agencies that have identified a specific teaching and learning need. In this regard decisions regarding eligibility of free fees to students in the BSc in Early Childhood and BSc in Education Studies are not a matter for my Department.