Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans to amend the SUSI grant to permit Irish students who study abroad within the European Union to be able to apply for student grants, on the basis that the recipients of the grants would then work in Ireland for a set period of time following graduation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39899/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of the Student Grant 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.

In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in other EU Member States. In general, an approved undergraduate course in this context is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds in another EU Member State or the UK.

The Scheme does not extend to PLC courses or postgraduate study pursued outside of Ireland nor does it extend to the payment of tuition fees to institutions outside the State, other than for exceptional provision in respect of postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland.

There is no provision in the Student Grant Scheme to link funding given to a student with a requirement to remain in the county following completion of their studies and there are currently no plans to introduce this option.

The Deputy may wish to note that 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 on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax office or from the Revenue Commissioners website www.revenue.ie.