Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1030. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will change guidelines in order that returning emigrants who have spent at least three of the previous five years in Ireland can change their status to qualify for the free fees initiative for any remainder of the college course that their children are attending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63490/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under my Department's Free Fees Initiative, the State pays tuition fees, exclusive of the student contribution, on behalf of eligible students attending approved full-time undergraduate courses. In order to qualify for funding under the Department's Free Fees Initiative, students must meet the criteria of the scheme including the residency requirements in their own right.

In order to meet the residency criteria a student must have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss/UK state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. The three out of five year rule takes cognizance of students who wish to take time out to travel or work abroad. Such students can still meet the residency requirement if they have not been outside the jurisdictions referenced above for more than two of the previous five years.

All students are required to meet the residency criteria of the scheme preceding their entry to an approved third level course. In this regard it is not possible for a period of residency that subsequently takes place, following the beginning of a course, to be considered in determining a student’s eligibility under the scheme. There are no plans to extend the scheme beyond its current eligibility criteria at this time.

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 an autonomous bodies.

My Department is conscious of the impact of the Free Fees Initiative eligibility criteria on Irish nationals who had, for occupational or economic reasons, to move abroad, requiring them to take their children out of the Irish education system in the process.

In March 2014, following consideration by Government, the then Minister for Education and Skills requested that the Higher Education Authority (HEA) advise the higher education sector of the Government’s view that, with effect from the academic year 2014/15 onwards, higher education institutions should charge the more moderate rate of EU fee for full-time undergraduate students that commence their first undergraduate course of study in an approved institution here and:

- Hold EU/EEA/Swiss nationality but do not meet the residency clause of the Free Fees Initiative; and

- have completed five academic years of study (at either primary or post-primary level) in an EU/EEA/Swiss State.

It is a matter for the institutions to apply this policy to such students.

In terms of other available supports for students, the Deputy may wish to be aware of the Student Assistance Fund (SAF), which provides financial support to full and part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college and can provide assistance towards their rent, childcare costs, transport costs and books/class materials. Applications can be made to this Fund through the Access Office in a student’s higher education institution.

In addition, tax relief at the standard rate of tax may also be available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.