Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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550. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Irish students will be considered as international students from January 2021 if they apply to UK colleges for postgraduate courses resulting in much higher fees; if agreements are being discussed to ensure Irish students can continue to study in the UK without international student fees applying (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39705/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In line with the Common Travel Area, Irish students, unlike students from other EU Member States, will not be treated as International Students for fee purposes.

Officials in my Department are currently engaged in intensive discussion with their counterparts in the Devolved Administrations in the UK with a view to finalising the fees to be charged to Irish Students, reflective of the overall architecture of the Common Travel Area.

A final position has not yet been reached for 2021/ 2022 onwards, but I am very conscious of the need to provide certainty as soon as possible to Irish students considering their options and my officials are working with their UK counterparts on that basis.