Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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684. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the recent decision by the Scottish Government to change the fees status of higher level Irish students in Scotland from home to rest of UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10120/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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685. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the recent decision by the Scottish Government to change the fees status of higher level Irish students in Scotland from home to rest of UK is in breach of the Common Travel Area agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10121/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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686. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has raised the recent decision by the Scottish Government to change the fees status of higher level Irish students in Scotland from home to rest of UK with his counterpart in the UK Government in order to address the negative consequences this will have for Irish students studying in the UK regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10122/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 684 to 686, inclusive, together.

Until 31st December 2020, Scotland applied an exemption for EU students from outside the UK for its fee regime for higher education students. This facilitated the 'free fees' regime for Scottish students, and EU (including Irish students) while at the same time charging fees to students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

As a consequence of the UK departure from the EU, Scotland has legal advice confirming that this arrangement can no longer apply, having regard to domestic UK legislation. However, while Scotland opted to charge EU students the higher full international fee, Irish students will be treated on the same basis as UK students from outside Scotland. This means that they will be liable are now liable for fees of up to £9,250 per annum. This revised arrangement does not impact on Irish students who are already pursuing their higher education studies in Scottish higher education institutions.

The Government has engaged with the Scottish Government about these issues, and in a welcome development, the Scottish Authorities have set aside the residency requirements and allowing immediate access to student loans from the Student Awards Agency Scotland.

The Deputy should also note that I recently amended the Student Support Act 2011 which will ensure that eligible Irish students can take their SUSI grant should they choose to study in an approved institution in the UK.