22 Dr. Woods asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5222/97]

34 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5227/97]

40 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5223/97]

42 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5221/97]

51 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5219/97]

58 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5224/97]

60 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5226/97]

70 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions that are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5192/97]

72 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5220/97]

80 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Education if she will award free fees to students taking NCEA degrees in designated private third-level colleges; if all students taking courses in institutions which are on the CAO or CAS system are in receipt of free fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5225/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 34, 40, 42, 51, 58, 60, 70, 72 and 80 together.

Under the free fees initiative, the State meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges. Over 28,000 students benefited under the initiative in 1995-96 at a cost to the Exchequer of £54.5 million in 1996. The costs associated with the initiative have been offset by the savings from the abolition of regressive covenant tax relief.

I have no plans to extend the scope of the free fees initiative to include NCEA degrees in designated private third level colleges. Any extension of the initiative would have to be considered in the light of overall resource constraints. In this regard, I would point out that tax relief is available at the standard rate on fees paid to private colleges in accordance with the provisions contained in section 6 of the Finance Act, 1995 and section 15 of the Finance Act, 1996.

All students pursuing courses in institutions which are part of the CAO-CAS system of entry are not in receipt of free fees. Only students who meet the eligibility criteria and are attending institutions which have been approved for the purposes of the free fees initiative qualify for free fees.

24 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on the issue of late payment of grants to third level students by certain local authorities; and the measures, if any, she intends to take to address this problem. [5180/97]

The arrangements for the payment of grants under the Higher Education Grants scheme are a matter for the local authorities, who are statutorily entrusted with the administration of the scheme under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968.

Officials of my Department have been in contact with all the local authorities and I understand that the general second instalment of the maintenance grant was paid by the second week of January 1997, with the exception of one council which paid the second instalment on 7 February 1997.