Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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471. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he intends to implement the 2020 Labour Court recommendations for adult education teachers; and if so, if he will provide a timeframe for its implementation. [23681/23]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Following discussions between my Department, the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform a proposal in response to the recommendation of the Labour Court regarding adult education tutors was agreed. The proposal is to establish a grade of Adult Educator with a standardised pay scale aligned with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale. This grade will apply to tutors employed in ETBs to deliver FET programmes, who are currently employed under a variety of terms and conditions. The formal offer has issued to the Unions and there has been subsequent engagement on operational aspects of the offer. The provision of a pay scale will allow for incremental progression and a career path for tutors in the further education and training sector.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware of a pathway for a student (details supplied) who has completed a University of Ulster Foundation Degree in Integrative Counselling and who has been accepted onto the fourth year in IICP College Tallaght (1 year study, part-time) to complete an honours degree in counselling and psychotherapy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23889/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.

At present, the student grant scheme is targeted at full-time students. Courses that are part-time, less than two years in duration, conducted online or as distance courses or which lead to a special purpose or distance award are not currently approved for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme.

Eligible candidates may receive funding under the Student Grant Scheme provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2023. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes.

A student attending a private college which is not listed in the Student Support Regulations 2023 would not be eligible for funding under the Student Grant Scheme 2023. However, it is open to course providers that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need. I would advise any student to make direct contact with the access office in the institution that they plan to attend to consider what supports may be available.

Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.