Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if higher education grants are available for students who wish to study in European universities outside the common travel area; if any supports are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26781/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Students pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in publicly-funded institutions in other EU Member States may be eligible for a maintenance grant under the Student Grant Scheme.

To qualify for such a grant a student must also satisfy the terms and condition of the scheme relating to residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.

The student grant scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by local grant awarding authorities - local authorities and VECs - and students should apply to the grant awarding authority in the area where they live to have their eligibility for a grant assessed. In addition, 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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which higher education grants remain to be available in households with more than one student in third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26818/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There is no limit on the number of students in a household that may qualify for a student grant provided that all applicants satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme.

Under the scheme, the qualifying reckonable income limits for households with more than one student attending further or higher education may be incrementally increased to take account of this situation.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for higher education grant or other support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26819/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The student grant scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by local grant awarding authorities - local authorities and VECs. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant.

The student in question is advised to apply to the grant awarding authority in the area where he lives to have his eligibility for a grant assessed.