Written Answers. - Third Level Education.
Phil Hogan
Question:
380
Mr. Hogan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if so, when he will issue a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24900/99]
I have received the correspondence in question and a reply has now issued. The correspondence related to the admission of one of the correspondent's daughters to third level courses in Ireland, the lack of opportunities, at postgraduate level, for her second daughter and the availability of financial assistance for a third daughter in respect of her attendance at a course in the University of Glamorgan in Wales.
The position in relation to the admission of individual students to university courses, whether at undergraduate or postgraduate level, is that it is a matter for each individual university in accordance with the provisions of the Universities Act, 1997. My Department does not have any function in relation to the day to day operational affairs of such institutions and it would not be open to me, therefore, to intervene on behalf of any individual applicant.
With regard to the availability of financial assistance for students studying abroad the position is that, as the Deputy may be aware, since 1996-97 the student support schemes have been extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students following approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another EU member state. The University of Glamorgan, Wales is an approved college for the purpose of the higher education grant scheme. Eligibility for maintenance grants under the student support schemes is subject to a means test and application should be made to the relevant local authority.
Since 1998-99 the UK authorities have introduced an annual tuition fee for students entering further and higher education institutions for the first time. However, all EU students, including Irish students, are eligible for grant assistance towards the tuition fee subject to the same conditions as apply to UK students. This means that students from lower income families will receive full grant assistance towards the cost of their tuition fees.
Finally, the 1999 Finance Act provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid (up to a maximum of £2,500) in respect of approved full-time third level courses pursued in a university or similar institution of higher education in another EU member state, which is maintained by recurrent grants from public funds in other EU member states. Approved courses are full-time undergraduate courses which are a minimum of two years duration other than courses in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or teacher training, including courses leading to the award of Bachelor of Education. Contact should be made with the local tax office in order to have one's eligibility for tax relief assessed.
