Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 627: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the assistance he will give to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in accessing full-time third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8181/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Higher Education Grants Scheme, an approved course is defined as 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. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student support schemes to part-time courses.

The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority, i.e. the Local Authority or VEC. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC.

Under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Initiative the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study. The main conditions are that students must: a) Be first-time undergraduates; and b) Hold E.U. nationality; and c) Have been ordinarily resident in an E.U. Member State for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course.

The Free Fees Initiative also extends to persons with official refugee status in the State and their family members and to certain non-EU family members of EU nationals who have permission from the Minister for Justice to reside in the State. In any case where the Free Fees Initiative does not apply, the rate of tuition fee to be charged is a matter for the individual third level institution.

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 EU Member State. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from a candidate's local tax office or on the Revenue Commissioners' website at http://www.revenue.ie