Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 442: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Louth cannot be given third level grant aid. [26813/04]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, maintenance grants are not payable to candidates who already hold an undergraduate degree and are pursuing a second undergraduate degree. Similarly, tuition fees under the free fees initiative, are not payable in respect of a second period of college attendance on a course at the same level. These restrictions apply to every student who already holds a qualification at any level, irrespective of where that qualification was obtained.

As the student referred to by the Deputy already holds a degree in architectural technology, she is therefore ineligible for a higher education grant or to benefit under the free fees initiative in respect of a degree course at NUI, Dublin.

Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for tax relief on tuition fees at the standard rate in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU and non-EU states. The maximum level of qualifying fee for tax relief purposes in the current academic year, 2004-05, is €3,175. Further details and application forms to claim tax relief on tuition fees are available from the Revenue Commissioners.