Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason grant support for study overseas is confined to undergraduate level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23081/05]

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the grant assistance available to a self employed person who takes up a postgraduate course in England; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23446/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 464 together.

My Department's third level student maintenance grant schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration, pursued in a university or a third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds, in other EU member states with effect from the 1996 to 1997 academic year. The extension of the schemes at that time did not include courses at postgraduate level and accordingly, there is no grant aid 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 outside of the island of Ireland could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector. At present, there are no plans to expand the provisions in the grant schemes in relation to study abroad.

However, section 21 of the Finance Act 2000, as amended by section 29 of the Finance Act 2001, provides for the introduction of tax relief for postgraduate tuition fees paid in colleges outside of Ireland. This relief, which is available from the tax year 2000 to 2001 onwards, applies at the standard rate of tax. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from local tax offices.