Dan Neville
Question:176 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a college (details supplied) in County Cork is not eligible for the higher education grants scheme 2001. [3059/02]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. An approved institution is defined to mean a university, university college or other institution of higher education in so far as it provides a course or courses of not less than two years, duration, being a course, or courses, which the Minister for Education and Science approves for the time being for the purposes of the Acts.
Each year, the higher education grants scheme specifies a list of approved institutions for the purposes of the scheme. The approved institutions mainly comprise publicly funded third level institutions. Any extension to the scope of the grants scheme, to include private colleges such as Skerries Business College, Cork, can be considered only in the light of available resources and in the context of competing demands within the education sector.
Tax relief is available at the standard rate, on fees paid to certain private colleges, including Skerries Business College. Further details and conditions in relation to such tax relief are available from local tax offices.