Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding for further education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36948/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education and Skills currently provides more than €400m in student supports to assist some 80,000 disadvantaged students to participate in higher education. 

Currently for the 2016/17 academic year students 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. The conditions for the special rate of grant are that reckonable income must be below €22,703 and be in receipt of a qualifying payment as listed in Schedule 2 of the Student Grant Scheme 2016. 

A €2,000 contribution is available towards the cost of fees if the postgraduate student’s reckonable income is below €31,500 increasing relative to the number of family dependents.

In line with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment a Budgetary announcement for 2017 included the introduction of a full maintenance grant (worth almost €6000 per student) from September 2017 for postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant. 

In relation to other supports, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis. 

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also 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.