Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has proposals to extend the free fees initiative to include part-time third level courses for persons participating in third level education for the first time, and to persons leaving farming to re-skill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14228/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans for extending the free tuition fees scheme to include part-time students at this time. The main conditions of the free fees initiative are that students must be first-time undergraduates, and 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. As the Deputy may also be aware, tax relief is available at the standard rate of taxation in respect of expenditure on fees associated with part-time higher education.