Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if funding is available to support people undertaking distance learning courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11945/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students. These are the Higher Education Grants (HEG) Scheme, the Vocational Education Committees' (VEC) Scholarships Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees (TLT) and the Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses (PLC). The decision on eligibility for third level grants is a matter for the relevant local authority or VEC.

Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. In order to qualify for financial assistance under the Third Level Student Support Schemes operated by my Department, a person must pursue a full-time undergraduate course, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at an approved third level institution.

Under the Free Fees Initiative, the Department meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses which must be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges.

An undergraduate course by distance learning, is not regarded as full-time study, accordingly, such students are ineligible for grant assistance under the Third Level Student Support Schemes.

Tax relief is available for tuition fees paid by students who are attending certain third level colleges. Such students, or their parents, as appropriate, can avail of tax relief, at the standard rate, on tuition fees paid in respect of part-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in such colleges, provided that both the college and the course satisfy the prescribed Codes of Standards and are approved by the Minister for Education and Science.

Further details and conditions in relation to tax relief are available from each individual's local tax office.