Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is an issue of reciprocity.

If Ireland provides certain supports for participation in a college overseas there is an expectation that a citizen from overseas has the right of participation in an Irish college. There is a quid pro quofor any extension in this respect and it is not as simple as deciding to pick a country or college and extending support to that place because of its geographic convenience. This suggestion would need to be examined carefully before we could consider it as it would raise an expectation under free movement rules in the EU. When one extends something to another national one does not exclude others. I will, however, ask my officials to look at the matter afresh.

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