Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if students domiciled in Northern Ireland who wish to enter third-level education in institutions here in September 2019 will be considered non-EU students; if they will be required to pay the non-EU rate of student fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31438/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been working closely with a number of organisations, and in particular with the Higher Education Authority (HEA), in Brexit planning for the higher education sector.

The HEA has published a Brexit issues paper and has held meetings with the HEIs to discuss ongoing planning and issues with them as the process develops. My Department will continue to engage in this important aspect of planning and research work, and during 2018 will maintain our extensive engagement with stakeholders across the sector, which has been fundamental to the Department’s preparations for Brexit since late 2016.

Following the UK triggering Article 50 of the Treaty in March 2017 and the ongoing negotiations, my Department has confirmed that eligible UK students who enrol for eligible courses for the 2018/19 academic year in a third level college recognised for the purposes of free fees will be able to avail of the Department’s Free Fee Schemes. Arrangements for an intake of such students for subsequent years will be kept under review in the context of the Brexit negotiations.