Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 680: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals he has to introduce more equity into entitlement to third level maintenance grants regarding employees and the self-employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6344/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The student maintenance grant is the main financial support available to students in higher education. Students who are entering approved courses are eligible for financial assistance where they satisfy the relevant conditions including those relating to residence, means, age, nationality and previous academic attainment. The assessment of means under my Department's student maintenance grant schemes is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The income thresholds are stated on a gross income basis – the average industrial wage by reference to which the thresholds are calculated represents gross pay before any deductions for income tax or PRSI. The means test arrangements of the student maintenance grant schemes are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. I have no plans at present to depart from the above practice in respect of the determination of income.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 681: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the financial assistance available to a student attending a private college in the United Kingdom. [6347/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Grants Schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Each year, the scheme specifies a list of approved institutions for grants purposes. The approved institutions mainly comprise of public funded third level institutions. Private colleges are not approved for grants purposes. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student support schemes to private colleges. However, Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved full/part-time courses in both private and publicly funded third level Colleges and Universities in the State and any other E.U. Member State. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from a candidate's local tax offices or on Revenue's website at http://www.revenue.ie.