Vol. 574 No. 5
174 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if there is funding available to a student who wishes to study in the United Kingdom for a masters in forensic psychology, in view of the fact the only course in this subject here is not recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27738/03]
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, there is no grant aid 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 of Ireland could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector.
However, there is provision for 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.
