Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that third level fees in Northern Ireland and the UK will be increased to £3000 sterling per annum; and her plans to alleviate these difficulties (details supplied). [32070/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's free fees initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who attend approved third level courses in the State. No plans exist to extend this initiative to cover third level institutions in Northern Ireland or the UK. My Department's higher education grant scheme and the Vocational Education Committee's scholarship scheme provide that where a candidate is not eligible for free tuition under the free fees initiative and is pursuing an approved course at undergraduate level in an institution listed in the State, the local authority or VEC may award a full or part grant in respect of the candidate's lecture fee, subject to the terms of this scheme. No plans exist to extend the payment of tuition fees under the student support schemes to undergraduate students attending approved courses outside the State. Section 473A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 also provides for tax relief on tuition fees at the standard rate of tax in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU and non-EU member states.