Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 811: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the post-graduate courses which are fully paid for by the State under the higher education grants programme; if she will increase the number of postgraduate courses covered; and if the thresholds for postgraduate courses not 100% paid for to date will be increased; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14476/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Under the scheme, an approved course is defined as either a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration, or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. Since the inception of the higher education grants scheme in 1968, students pursuing postgraduate courses at approved colleges in Ireland and Northern Ireland can apply for grants in respect of their fees, subject to the prescribed maximum fee limit, under the grants scheme. The prescribed maximum fee limit is kept under review. It was increased to €5,380 for the current academic year, from €5,028 in 2004-05.

In 1996-97 my Department's student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in other EU member states. The courses must be followed in a university or third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. The extension of the schemes at that time did not extend to courses at postgraduate level.

Any extension to the scope of the grants scheme, to provide for students pursuing postgraduate courses in private colleges or colleges in all other EU member states can be considered only in the light of available resources and in the context of competing demands within the education sector. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student support schemes for postgraduate study.