Vol. 520 No. 1
378 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received the promised report from his officials on removing the residency requirement for third level grant eligibility for children of returning emigrants as decisions must be made now for the next academic year. [14998/00]
My officials are continuing their examination of the residency requirements under the free fees initiative and will report to me in due course. I will then be in a position to determine whether changes in the residency requirements are justified. As the Deputy is aware, to be eligible under the free fees initiative, students must have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding entry to their third level course.
I would also point out to the Deputy that candidates who are EU nationals and who do not satisfy the residency requirements under the free fees initiative are eligible to apply for a means tested fees only grant in respect of approved courses in the Republic of Ireland. To qualify for such a grant they must have been ordinarily resident, for a purpose other than wholly or mainly to receive full-time education, in an EU member state from 1 October of the year prior to entry to college.
