Q; My son is applying for a degree course, but he finds it hard to study. If he were, to all his first year and go on to a diploma course in the DIT, would we have to pay fees for him? Dundalk reader.

A; First things first I don't think you should be thinking in terms of him possibly failing. What you and your son need to do is concentrate on getting him through the Leaving Cert and into college. You say he is interested in social science and I see no reason why he should not pass his first year exams if he gets in and does a reasonable amount of work.

You mention that he is also interested in a DIT diploma course. If he wanted a place on this after having completed the first year of a university course he would, of course, have to apply on the CAO form again like everyone else. This means that he would need to think about this before the late CAO closing date of May 1st.

And yes, he would have to pay fees for the first year of the DIT course if he did get a place on it. People only get each college year free once thus if your son does his first year again in another college, then he must pay the fees. After the first year he will revert to having his fees paid again for the remaining years.

Q; My son is currently doing an apprenticeship in agricultural engineering.

He would like to do an RTC course when he is qualified, but did not have the Leaving Cert points required. Can he be taken in as a mature student? Co Wexford reader.

A; He most certainly can. One of the opportunities which RTCs are very specifically required to provide is a ladder through to higher education for those with craft or trade qualifications.

You tell me that he has already attended agricultural college before commencing the FAS apprenticeship this should give him added advantages as you say he is interested in agricultural engineering.

RTC's are required to consider trade and craft qualifications as alternatives to the Leaving Cert for admission purposes. And quite a number of people from the trades are taken in each year by RTCs.

In any case, once your son is over 23 he qualifies as a mature applicant and would be considered on criteria other than Leaving Cert results.

I would suggest that you contact the relevant RTC in advance and get precise details from them on their admissions procedures. Some RTCs seem a bit vague about criteria for admitting mature and other non school level applicants. I would suggest that once your son has made the application that he should ask them about its progress from time to time to ensure that he is being considered.

Q; We live in the West of Ireland and will be relocating to Dublin this year at are my chances of getting my small daughters intonational school there. Are schools obliged to take children re located in mid year? West of Ireland reader.

A; Whether or not national schools are obliged to take the children in their surrounding area is a good question. There appears to be no definite rule on this although there is a general understanding that they do.

Problems arise, of course, when they are already oversubscribed and this can happen easily in a fast growing area. Most national schools will do their best to take a child who has had to relocate, but sometimes it can be impossible.

I would suggest that you decide as quickly as possible roughly the area you will move to in Dublin and contact the surrounding national schools immediately. Your best bet would be to have an address and then make a personal approach to the principal of your nearest school.

I'd almost be inclined to hang on in the West with the kids until the end of the school year, with your husband commuting, if you can't get into a school mid year. You will almost certainly find somewhere in Dublin in the meantime, but moving school twice in the one year would be very unsettling for the children.

This is a problem I encounter quite a lot and parents often do experience difficulties. But I have also encountered second level schools in fast growing areas which keep a few spare places deliberately for people who move into the area in mid year.

Q; I left third level education seven years ago and have done an introductory humanities course with the Distance Education Centre in the meantime. I would like to go back to study full time. Would I qualify for any grants? Swords Co Dublin reader.

A; You could certainly, apply to any of the universities here for an arts or psychology (one of the areas you mention).

You would be considered a mature applicant though "there are far more mature applicants than there are available places.

You do not tell me what you have already studied at third level. If you have completed a number of years at third level before, then you will have to pay fees for the equivalent number of years now.

As a mature applicant you "might qualify for a grant. You will be means tested on your parents income if you live at home, on your own income if you live away from home. So, assuming that you did not get a grant last time around, it, is possible to qualify for a maintenance grant now even though you might be ineligible for the free fees scheme.

If you get a place in a UCAS college in Britain or Northern Ireland, you will normally not have to pay fees even if you were at college before. From this year, the Irish Government would pay your maintenance grant while studying in the UK if your ar eligible for the grant here.

If you have not completed year in third level education before, then there is no problem and you will not have to pay fees.

Q; We are an English couple moving to Dublin. We need to choose schools for two and a half and eight month old daughters to attend in the future. We were thinking of buying a house in Foxrock or Blackrock but would be prepared to move where the best school would be. What would you advise? British parents.

A; Drive around Dublin, taking your time looking at houses. Visit estate agents and then pick a nice, house in a pleasant location with plenty of space for your daughters to play and with plenty of other children around them.

Then, at your leisure, stroll down to your local national school and put their names down. Believe me, it is far more important that you are happy and comfortable with your house than that it is near what people will tell you is a "good" school. Stop worrying.

When you're settled in, visit your local schools and put your girls' names down. Well meaning people have been telling you that you need to act now don't let this worry you too much. Certainly, as soon as you've picked your house, you should get them on the local schools' waiting list immediately. But don't take too much notice of South Dubliners' preoccupation with choosing schools there are plenty of good schools around.

It certainly makes life more comfortable if you live up the road from a primary schoool, thus avoiding hauling your daughters long distances mornings and afternoons, but I don't think it matters all that much which primary school. Outside of Dublin indeed outside of South Dublin private primary school are virtually non existent and there are only a handful of fee charging second level schools outside the capital. Yet, strangely enough more students from most of the provincial areas get into college than do Dubliners there must be a moral there somewhere.