Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an Irish resident who has been working as a physiotherapist abroad for more than five years is required to pay non-EU fees to study medicine on his or her return. [50481/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The position is that to qualify for funding towards tuition fees, students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. These rules apply to all students from all EU/EEA/Swiss states. Students undertaking a second undergraduate qualification are not entitled to support under the scheme.

Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution.  These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution to determine.

Tax relief is available on fees paid and students can apply to the Student Assistance Fund for financial support if needed.