Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 543: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if there are grounds for appealing an application for third level grant assistance towards a postgraduate course available in the UK on the basis that a comparable course is not available for study here. [8707/05]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 545: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if grants are available to students who wish to undertake postgraduate courses in the United Kingdom in subjects which are not offered here; the location at which information on such grants may be obtained; if they are not available, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8720/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 545 together.

Since the inception of the higher education grants scheme in 1968, students pursuing postgraduate courses at approved colleges in Northern Ireland can apply for grants in respect of their fees and maintenance under the higher education grants scheme. As and from the 1996-97 academic year, the terms of my Department's student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants for eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another EU member state, including the UK. The extension of the schemes at that time did not include courses at postgraduate level and, accordingly, there are no grants available under the schemes for students pursuing postgraduate studies outside of the island of Ireland.

Any extension of the current arrangements, to provide for students pursuing postgraduate courses in the UK generally would have to be considered within the context of all other EU member states. There are no plans to extend the current arrangements to provide for students pursuing postgraduate courses outside the island of Ireland. Such a proposal would have to be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands in the education sector.

There is provision for tax relief for postgraduate tuition fees paid in publicly funded colleges outside Ireland. This relief which is available from the tax year 2000-01 onwards applies at the standard rate of tax. It is available to full-time and part-time postgraduate students and includes distance education courses offered here by publicly funded colleges in other EU member states. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from local tax offices.