Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 2

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

14 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has given consideration to providing grant aid to third level students pursuing open university degree courses and who left school at a time when no grants existed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1969 to 1992, provides for means tested higher education grants to assist students to attend full-time third level education. An approved course for the purposes of the higher education grants scheme is, generally speaking, a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years' duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved third level institution. The institutions approved under the scheme are, generally speaking, publicly funded third level colleges offering full-time courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Similarly under the terms of the free fees initiative whereby the State meets the tuition costs of eligible students, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of a minimum duration of two years in an approved third level institution.

Courses provided by the Open University are not approved courses under the terms of the maintenance grant schemes or the free fees initiative. Tax relief is, however, available in respect of tuition fees paid for approved distance education courses provided in Ireland by approved colleges or institutions in another member state of the EU. In common with other institutions, the Open University may seek to have specific courses designated as approved courses for tax relief purposes. An extension of the scope of the free fees initiative or the maintenance grant schemes to provide for students pursuing distance education courses, on a similar basis as currently exists for full-time students, could only be considered having regard to overall resource constraints and other competing demands in the education sector.