Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 5

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

254 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider the application for a 2002 higher education grant from a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, in view of the fact that the calibre of training provided to them at the Royal College of Music in London is not available here; if an alternative source of funding support can be made available by his Department to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16441/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy is pursuing a graduate diploma in opera singing at the Royal College of Music, London.

As and from the 1996-97 academic year, the terms of my Department's student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing approved full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another EU member state, including the UK. The extension of the schemes at that time did not include courses at postgraduate level and, accordingly, no grant aid is available, under the schemes, for students pursuing postgraduate studies outside of Ireland.

Any extension of the current arrangements to provide for students pursuing postgraduate courses outside Ireland could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education section.

However, the Deputy may be aware that section 21 of the Finance Act 2000, as amended by Section 29 of the Finance Act 2001, provides for the introduction of tax relief for postgraduate tuition fees paid in publicly funded colleges outside of Ireland. This relief, which is available from the tax year 2000-01 onwards, applies at the standard rate of tax. It is available to full-time and part-time postgraduate students and includes distance education courses offered here by publicly funded colleges in other EU member states. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from local tax offices.