Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of further assistance by way of higher education grant available in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34135/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place.

In the scenario presented by the Deputy, a student who already holds a Masters and now proposes to do a Higher Diploma is not considered to be progressing and cannot be considered for funding under the Student Grant Scheme. Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners.