Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports available in respect of a person (details supplied) who has secured a college placement in the UK; if discretion may be used when deciding to award grants to applicants who fall slightly outside of the financial guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2973/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department's student grant scheme provides maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in the State or in other E.U. Member States.

Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

The purpose of the student grant is to contribute towards the maintenance costs associated with going to college where parental means are likely to be insufficient to meet those costs. Income thresholds are necessary to ensure that this support is properly targeted towards those who are most in need of this assistance. There is no discretion for an awarding authority to make awards outside the conditions of eligibility provided for in the Student Grant Scheme.

The Deputy will be aware that 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 in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners on www.revenue.ie.