Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that 21% of Donegal third level students attend institutions in Northern Ireland and the UK; if, in view of the fact that college fees have been so drastically increased in the North and UK in recent months a scheme is being planned to facilitate Irish students who have to attend colleges there; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8387/06]

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 are attending approved third level courses in the State. There are no plans to extend this initiative to cover third level institutions in Northern Ireland or the UK.

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 Northern Ireland and the UK. In general, approved courses are those pursued in a third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. However the payment of undergraduate tuition fees under these schemes does not extend to approved courses outside the State and there are no plans to change this position at present.

Section 473A 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.