Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the grants or assistance available to a UCD physiotherapy graduate who is pursuing a medical degree in a university (details supplied) which was their original career choice. [16022/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for a student's grant awarding body. The Deputy will appreciate that, in the absence of the all of the relevant details contained in an application form, it is not possible for me to say if a candidate qualifies for a grant.

In general, students who previously pursued a course of study are not eligible for grant assistance for a second period of study at the same level, which appears to be the case here, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. Subject to the conditions of the individual schemes, grants are available where students are progressing to a course at a higher level. The objective of this policy is to assist as many students as possible in obtaining one qualification at each level of study. However, Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as amended by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2011, provides for 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. This information may be of assistance to the student concerned.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 93: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason physiotherapy and medicine are regarded as being at the same level, despite medicine being a longer degree course than physiotherapy, when assessing if a person may receive maintenance fees, tuition fee or other supports or grants whereas in the past a physiotherapy degree was seen as a route to access a medical degree; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16023/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The position is that under my Departments free fees and maintenance grants schemes students are eligible for free tuition fees and maintenance grant support respectively where they pursue an approved undergraduate course of study and do not already hold an undergraduate qualification. Therefore where a student already holds a level 8 qualification in physiotherapy such a student would not be eligible for free tuition fees or maintenance support should they subsequently commence a second level 8 course of study such as medicine.

A prerequisite for entry to Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) programmes is an Upper Second or First Class Honours Bachelor's degree in any discipline, in addition to which applicants must sit the GAMSAT admissions test. Thus physiotherapy graduates with an Upper Second or First Class Honours degree, along with graduates of all other disciplines, are eligible to apply to graduate entry medicine programmes. GEM students are liable for the cost of their tuition fees, which are set by each individual institution. However, the fees of EU students are partly subsidised by the Irish State through the Higher Education Authority.

Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as amended by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2011, provides for 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. Details are available on the Revenue Commissioners' website at www.revenue.ie.