Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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3415. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the same income eligibility limits for SUSI grants are applicable for students attending recognised courses in colleges outside this State, such as in Northern Ireland, as are applicable for students attending recognised courses in colleges in this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43641/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The income limit eligibility criteria for various grants under the Student Grant Scheme is the same for all students. However, the types of grants available varies depending on circumstances including course type and location.

In relation to support available for students studying abroad, the Student Grant Scheme provides maintenance grants to eligible undergraduate students pursuing approved courses in the United Kingdom and 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 maintenance supports 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.

The Deputy may wish to note that tax relief may be available at the standard rate of tax 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.