Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the concerns of a person (details supplied) regarding fees for a master's degree; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26011/10]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the rules governing university fees for postgraduate students who are Irish citizens but who have not been resident here for more than five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26059/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 224 together. The position is that my Department is involved at a sectoral level in the context of budgetary discussions regarding overall funding and proposals for fee changes in relation to the higher education sector. However as the Deputies may be aware higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the criteria governing the level of tuition fees to be charged, in cases where students do not qualify for free fees and in the case of postgraduate study, are determined by the institutions. As such, post-graduate level fees are set by individual higher education institutions and accordingly I have no role in this matter.

I would point out that 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 E.U. Member States and in non EU countries. The application form (I.T. 31 Form) to claim tax relief on tuition fees is available from the Revenue Commissioners