Vol. 560 No. 3
280 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding available, other than a higher education grant, for a student attending a postgraduate diploma course in primary education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2707/03]
Apart from the maintenance grants schemes, support is also available to students through my Department's student assistance fund. The objectives of the fund are to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies. The fund is administered by the third level institutions and provides direct financial support to students to assist them to remain on in college to complete their studies. Information on the fund is available to students from the access officer, or other officer with responsibility for the fund, at the college which they are attending.
In addition, section 21 of the Finance Act 2000 provided for the introduction of tax relief, from the 2000-01 academic year, for postgraduate 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. The relief, which applies at the standard rate of tax, is available to full-time and part-time postgraduate students. The higher diplomas in primary education at Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, Mary Immaculate College and St. Patrick's College are currently included on the list of approved postgraduate courses eligible for tax relief under section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.
Further details and application forms to claim tax relief on tuition fees are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
