Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Mar 1994

Vol. 439 No. 5

Written Answers. - Third Level Student Support Schemes.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

28 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education whether she will have discussions with the British Education Secretary with a view to introducing reciprocal arrangements for payment of third level fees and maintenance on these islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

Membership of the European Union obliges the relevant authorities in all the member states in the administration of their schemes of third level student support not to discriminate between their own nationals and nationals from other member states.

Accordingly, the benefits and conditions of whatever student support schemes or other arrangements for access to third level courses which apply to a member states third level students who are nationals, must be applied in an identical fashion to a member states third level students who are nationals from another member state.

As a result of these obligations the situation regarding third level students from here studying in the UK and students from the UK studying here is as follows: (a) In the UK practically all undergraduate students from here qualify to have their fees paid by the authorities there, as is the position with their UK counterparts; in order to qualify for maintenance grants they must have been resident in the UK for three years which is the same requirement that applies to the UK students; (b) UK students attending third level institutions here may qualify for a higher education grant or a vocational education committee scholarship subject to a one year residential requirement. Also, fees are paid in respect of UK students attending ESF funded courses here but the maintenance element is subject to the one year residential requirement. This residency requirement applies to Irish students.

As the authorities in both jurisdictions are meeting the requirements of European Union law I do not see that there is any need to hold discussions with the UK authorities on this matter.