Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full range of financial supports available to students entering a second undergraduate course immediately upon completion of an undergraduate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12740/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full range of financial supports available to students entering a postgraduate course immediately upon completion of an undergraduate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12741/14]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the full range of financial supports available to students or their parents-guardians entering a second undergraduate course immediately upon completion of an undergraduate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12743/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 to 83, inclusive, together.

Under the terms of my Department's student grant and free fees schemes, students who are entering approved full-time undergraduate course in an approved higher education institution are eligible to be considered for grants and free tuition fees. In general, students who previously pursued a course of study are not eligible for assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level. The main objective of this policy is to assist as many students as possible in obtaining one undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate students are not entitled to maintenance payments under the Student Grant Scheme. Those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. 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.

The Free Fees Schemes do not extend to postgraduate study. However, where a student is unemployed they may qualify under the Springboard programme which targets funding of free part-time flexible higher education courses up to master's degree level for unemployed and previously self-employed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. Springboard places are open to unemployed people who have a previous history of employment and there is no requirement that a person be progressing on the National Framework of Qualifications. Further information on Springboard, including a list of courses that are currently open for application, is available on the dedicated information and applications website: www.springboardcourses.ie.

Where students do not meet the eligibility criteria of the Free Fees Schemes or do not qualify under the Springboard programme, they must pay the appropriate tuition fee as determined by the third level institution. Such institutions are autonomous bodies and, as such, the level of fees to be charged is a matter for the institutions. In that regard, Section 473A, of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, 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 in the State and any other EU Member State.