Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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294. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he provides funds to assist students with fees in Northern Ireland; if there are European Union funds that a student can apply directly for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10086/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.

There is no provision under the student grant scheme for the payment of fees to students studying outside of the State. However there is an exceptional provision for students attending approved postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland. Such students may be eligible for assistance towards their postgraduate fees up to the maximum fees limit of €6,270 or a Postgraduate Fee Contribution of €2,000 subject to satisfying the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme 2015.

Officials in the Department of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland have confirmed that a student from another European Union (EU) country studying in Northern Ireland can apply for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees. Further information is available on www.nidirect.gov.uk.

In addition, 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 in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the Revenue Commissioners onwww.revenue.ie.