Vol. 478 No. 4
143 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to assist Irish postgraduate students who opt to pursue a masters degree in universities outside the State and who are currently not entitled to grants in respect of fees and maintenance. [11210/97]
I extended the schemes of student support to provide for means tested maintenance grants in the 1996-97 academic year to students following full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another EU member state. The course must be followed in a university or third level institution which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. Certain courses are excluded, such as courses in subject areas which are subject to quotas on places and courses in private commercial colleges. To be eligible for grant-aid under the schemes of student support all students must fulfil the conditions as to residence, age, academic attainments, means and nationality.
I have no plans to extend these arrangements to include postgraduate courses. Indeed any extension of these arrangements would have to be considered in the light of available resources.
