John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if financial assistance is available to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon in order to pursue a pilot's training in Spain; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9775/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's higher education grant schemes, maintenance grants are available to eligible students pursuing approved undergraduate courses in other EU member states, including Spain. In general, approved courses are those pursued in a third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds.

Students attending approved courses in other EU member states are subject to the same conditions of funding as students attending approved courses in the State. The main conditions of funding relate to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

I should mention that under the terms of the schemes, students are not eligible to receive funding in respect of a repeat period of study at the same level and that students who already hold a qualification at undergraduate degree level are not generally eligible for funding in respect of further study at this level. Also, tax-relief on tuition fees is available in respect of approved courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level in other EU member states. Grant assistance is not awarded in respect of postgraduate study outside of the island of Ireland.