Michael Creed
Question:131 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer annually of the tax relief on third level fees. [10101/01]
Written Answers. - Tax Reliefs.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that information on the cost to the Exchequer in respect of tax relief allowed on fees paid for third level tuition is available for the income tax years 1996-7, 1997-8 and on a provisional basis for 1998-9.
The relevant figures are as follows:
|
Year |
Claimants |
Cost to Exchequer |
|
£ million |
||
|
1996-97 |
5,000 |
1.5 |
|
1997-98 |
6,900 |
2.0 |
|
1998-99 (provisional) |
10,300 |
2.9 |
As the Deputy will be aware, the scope of these reliefs has been widened each year since the introduction of the first relief. Tax relief is now available for undergraduate students studying abroad, post-graduate students studying here and in the EU. This year's Finance Act has merged the existing four tax reliefs and will allow tax relief for post-graduate students studying outside the EU for repeat years and for more than one course. It is likely that these changes will increase the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief for third level fees.