Marino Institute of Education, MIE, based in my constituency, is a teacher training college funded by the Department of education. It produces world class educators who work in Ireland and abroad. I think the Tánaiste visited there in times past. However, MIE has two courses that do not qualify under the free fees initiative - the bachelor of science in education studies and the bachelor of science in early childhood education. This is fundamentally unfair and puts MIE at a financial disadvantage. The issue seems to relate to the fact MIE is funded by the Department of education and not the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, that is, the HEA process. As a former Minister for higher education, the Tánaiste has a bit of direct know-how here and skin in the game. Can he direct departmental officials to rectify this unfair anomaly please?

I thank Deputy Ó Muirí and he is correct that I had the honour of visiting Marino Institute of Education. It is a brilliant third level facility and it has made this point for some time. I want to acknowledge that. The reason some of its courses are not funded under the free fees initiative is because of its status as a private institution with charitable status under the co-trusteeship of the European Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and Trinity College Dublin. From memory, we brought in a new Higher Education Act which gives an ability to a private institution to decide to bring itself closer into the family, to use colloquial language, and therefore that opens up opportunities on free fees. On foot of the Deputy raising this, I will ask the Minister, Deputy Lawless, to come back to him directly. I have no doubt the Minister and officials will meet MIE. I know they are in ongoing engagement on this matter. I thank him for highlighting this.