Written answers

Thursday, 1 February 2007

Department of Education and Science

Higher Education Grants

5:00 pm

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [3173/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the terms of the higher education grants scheme, maintenance grants are payable to eligible students pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third-level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU member state. The position regarding tuition fees is that none of the third level student support schemes operated on behalf of the Department extend to the payment of tuition fees in respect of courses outside of Ireland. In order to qualify for a maintenance grant a candidate must satisfy the relevant conditions of the student support schemes in regard to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

I understand that the candidate in question is in receipt of a Higher Education Grant from Kerry County Council to pursue her course at the University of Wales. However, Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and postgraduate courses in non-EU countries. Tax relief at undergraduate level extends to approved full/part-time courses in both private and publicly funded third level colleges in the State and any other EU Member State and approved full/part-time courses operated by Colleges in any EU Member State providing distance education in the State. Approved undergraduate courses must be of at least two years duration, and both the college and the course must satisfy the Codes of Standards as laid down by the my Department. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from the candidate's local Tax Office. In addition, I understand that, in such circumstances, financial assistance towards tuition fees by way of student loans may be available to EU nationals from the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom.

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