Written answers

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Department of Education and Skills

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Photo of Colm KeaveneyColm Keaveney (Galway East, Independent)
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310. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that students will be entitled to a third level grant from Student Universal Support Ireland if, satisfying all other criteria, they are going from an appropriate degree with an NFQ level of 8 to a Professional Diploma in Education which has a NFQ level of 8; that condition of progression will be waived in this case, in view of the fact that the Professional Diploma is a necessary qualification to work as a teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/13]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Professional Diploma in Education (PDE), previously known as a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), was placed on the framework of qualifications at Level 8 with effect from the start of the academic year 2011/12. The course is considered to be a postgraduate course for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme.

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.

For the purposes of the student grant scheme a student who has successfully completed an undergraduate course at Level 8 and is transferring to a postgraduate course at Level 8 of the framework of qualifications or equivalent is deemed to be progressing.

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 relating to residency, nationality, academic attainment and means it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant.

Students commencing a new course in the academic year 2013/14 are required to submit their grant application to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) via www.susi.ie. to have their eligibility for grant assistance assessed.

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.

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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311. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students who are studying for a post graduate course are entitled to the special rate top up for non adjacent students where the income is below €22,000 per annum but where the student being a mature student is not in receipt of any payment from the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37538/13]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Currently maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses.

To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions: 1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term social welfare payment prescribed under the scheme.

A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents.

Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.

In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.

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