Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 6

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Andrew Boylan

Question:

290 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the long delay in replying to a letter from Deputy Boylan of 27 July 2000 in respect of a query asking for the reason Galway University, County Galway is not an approved tax relief college; the further reason Deputy Boylan has only received an acknowledgement dated 16 October 2000; and if, because of this lack of response, he will now make provisions for the inclusion of this university as an approved tax relief college. [23616/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The National University of Ireland, Galway, is an approved institution, for tax relief purposes, under a number of provisions.

Section 15 of the Finance Act, 1996, provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, on tuition fees paid in respect of students attending approved part-time under-graduate courses of at least two years duration at colleges approved for the higher education grant scheme.

Section 21 of the Finance Act, 2000, provides for the introduction of tax relief, from the 2000-2001 academic year, for post-graduate fees paid in respect of approved courses in publicly funded colleges here and in other EU member states, as well as in private colleges in this State. This new relief, which applies at the standard rate of tax, is available to full-time and part-time post-graduate students.

Further details and application forms to claim tax relief on tuition fees are available from the Revenue Commissioners.

Tax relief is not available in respect of fees paid for full-time under-graduate courses in publicly funded third level colleges, including the National University of Ireland, Galway.

A number of other schemes are in operation which provide measures of tax relief in the third level sector.

Section 485 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides for tax relief on gifts made by private individuals or companies to approved third level education institutions, including NUI Galway, for specified projects – mainly the undertaking of research, the acquisition of equipment and the provision of facilities designed to increase student numbers in areas of skills needs.

Section 843 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides for tax-based relief for financing packages involving the construction, sale and leaseback of capital investments, buildings and equipment, considered to be of particular importance in approved third level education institutions, including NUI Galway, where the institution has obtained not less than half the funding from private sources.

Section 50 of the Finance Act, 1999, was introduced to mitigate the impact on the student population of current supply pressures in the private rented sector by providing tax incentives for the provision of rented residential accommodation in the third level sector. This relief will be available under the legislation for expenditure up to 31 March 2003 and allows investors to offset 100% of the costs of construction, conversion or refurbishment of purpose built student accommodation against all rental income over a maximum period of ten years.

My Department is unable to trace any record of receiving the Deputy's letter of 27 July 2000. I wish, however, to confirm receipt of his letter, dated 8 September 2000, which was acknowledged on 12 October 2000.