Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Keaveney for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I will reply on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, who is unavoidably absent owing to a prior commitment. The free fees initiative scheme operated by the Department of Education and Science provides free tuition to eligible students who attend approved third level courses. The main eligibility conditions of the initiative are that students must be first­time undergraduates, hold EU nationality or official refugee status and have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. The courses approved for free tuition are full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years' duration which are followed in approved third level institutions in the State. At present, in the region of 40 institutions deliver courses approved for free tuition.

There are no plans by the Department of Education and Science to extend the eligibility conditions of the free fees initiative to cover students attending third level institutions in Northern Ireland. Under the terms of the Department's maintenance grants schemes, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending approved third level courses in approved institutions. An approved course for the purpose of the schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years' duration and a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved institution. To qualify for grant assistance, a candidate must satisfy the prescribed conditions of the schemes, including those relating to residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

Students from this State who attend undergraduate courses in Northern Ireland can apply for maintenance grants in respect of approved courses which are pursued in colleges approved for the purpose of the Department's higher education grant scheme and vocational education committees' scholarship scheme. Both these schemes provide that where a candidate is not eligible for free tuition under the free fees initiative and is pursuing an approved course at undergraduate level in an institution listed in the State, the local authority or vocational education committee may award a full or part grant in respect of the candidate's lecture fee, subject to the terms of this scheme.

There are no plans to extend the payment of tuition fees under the student support schemes to undergraduate students attending approved courses outside the State. It is understood, however, that students attending higher education institutions in Northern Ireland and who are ordinarily resident in a member state of the European Union will be eligible for a fee loan from the Northern Ireland authorities up to the amount charged by the higher education institution. Further clarification is available from the Department of Employment and Learningin Northern Ireland. Its e-mail address isstudentfinance@delni.gov.uk.

Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 also provides for tax relief on tuition fees, at the standard rate of tax in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU and non-EU member states. I thank Deputy Keaveney for raising this matter in the House.

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