Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to introduce assistance with the cost of fees for persons living in remote areas who wish to access online and accredited third level and fourth level courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9723/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Exchequer provides free fees funding in respect of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate approved courses of study under my Department's free fees schemes. Under the schemes students must be 'attending' courses in order for that course to be considered an approved course. Online courses, therefore by their definition are not considered approved courses under the scheme.

Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee as determined by their third level institution. Third level institutions are autonomous bodies and it is a matter for the institution to determine the rate of fee payable by students.

Under the Student Grant Scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration, pursued in an approved institution. Section 8 (1) (b) of the Student Support Act 2011, requires a student to attend a full-time course, in order to be considered for a grant under the Student Grant Scheme. There are no plans at present to extend the scope of the student grant scheme to on-line or part-time courses.

The Deputy will be aware that tax relief is available for certain fees paid in respect of third level education. Full details of this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners (www.revenue.ie).