Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of the increasing concerns of students at the prospect of student fees payable by those from the Republic of Ireland, who are undertaking degree programmes in either Northern Ireland or in the United Kingdom, may in future be levied at non-European Union student rates following the Brexit referendum outcome; if he is further aware of similar concerns amongst students resident in Northern Ireland regarding the likelihood of student fees being levied at non-European Union student rates for those studying in institutions here; the measures he will take to ensure that students in both instances will not experience an increase in the cost of attending third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19274/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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We have been working for many years with our colleagues in Northern Ireland in seeking to encourage cross-Border participation in education. My Department will continue to work constructively to try to maintain the greatest possible links and co-operation between the EU and the UK in student and academic mobility and in research activities. Negotiations on the future EU UK relationship will now be required and the Irish Government will continue to emphasise our very particular relationship with Northern Ireland and the UK in these negotiations, a fact that is widely understood by our EU partners.

The Irish Universities Association recently issued a statement reassuring all UK students currently enrolled in an Irish university that they will continue to enjoy the same conditions as other EU students regarding fees and contributions, for the duration of their degree. The Irish universities also confirmed that UK applicants planning to enter an Irish university in 2016 will likewise enjoy these same conditions as other EU students for the duration of their degree.

In addition, Universities UK and the UK Student Loans Company (SLC) have made statements regarding EU nationals studying in the UK. Universities UK have stated that their first priority will be to convince the UK Government to take steps to ensure that students from EU countries can continue to study at British universities in the long term. The UK SLC has stated that EU nationals or their family members, currently in higher education, and who are assessed as eligible to receive loans and/or grants from the SLC, will continue to receive these loans and grants until they finish their course.