Vol. 537 No. 5
595 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will receive financial support to undertake a Master's degree at Trinity College Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17243/01]
The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1969 to 1992, provides for means tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. An approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course, which must generally be of at least two year's duration, or a full-time postgraduate course, of at least one year's duration. As the course in question is a part-time Master's degree, the person to whom the Deputy refers is not eligible to receive grant assistance under the scheme.
The Finance Act, 2000 provided for tax relief for postgraduate fees paid in publicly funded colleges here and in the EU, as well as in private colleges in this country. This relief, which applies at the standard rate of tax, is available to full-time and part-time postgraduate students.
