Seán Crowe
Question:105 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the details of all grants, financial supports or aid available for students from this State to attend university in the North. [6819/03]
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.
Under the terms of my Department's maintenance grants schemes, grant assistance is available to eligible students attending approved third level courses in approved institutions. An approved course for the purpose of the schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration and a full time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution.
In order to qualify for grant assistance, a candidate must, of course, satisfy the prescribed conditions of the schemes including those relating to residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment.
Students from this State who are attending undergraduate courses in Northern Ireland can apply for maintenance grants in respect of approved courses at higher national diploma level or higher, which are pursued in colleges approved for the purpose of the schemes.
Under the terms of the schemes, grants are not available in respect of tuition fees paid at undergraduate level in Northern Ireland. However, all EU students, including students from this State, are eligible for grant assistance towards the cost of tuition fees from the education and library boards in Northern Ireland, subject to the same conditions as apply to students who have been resident in Northern Ireland.
Students pursuing approved postgraduate courses in Northern Ireland can apply for assistance under the terms of the schemes in respect of maintenance grants and, also, grants in respect of the cost of their tuition fees, subject to a maximum fee limit, which is currently €4,412.
The fund for students with disabilities, which is administered by my Department with assistance from the European Social Fund, aims to assist students with serious sensory, physical and/or communicative disabilities to pursue further and higher education in approved colleges. Grant assistance under the fund is available to eligible students attending approved third level institutions in Northern Ireland.
Tax relief has been available for tuition fees paid for full-time, qualifying undergraduate courses in publicly funded universities or similar third level colleges in any EU member state, including in Northern Ireland, since 1999-2000. The Finance Act 2000, provided for the introduction of tax relief for postgraduate fees paid in publicly funded colleges here and in other EU member states, as well as in private colleges in the State. This relief, which is available from the tax year 2000-01 onwards, applies at the standard rate of tax and is available to full-time and part-time postgraduate students.