Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2005
258 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person, details supplied, in County Sligo was unable to receive a grant from their local authority to study for a H.Dip in Galway; the options open to this person for funding in order to continue the H.Dip course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21341/05]
View answerUnder the terms of the third level student support schemes, administered by the local authorities and vocational education committees on behalf of my Department, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level, irrespective of whether or not, a grant was paid previously. The schemes also provide that grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are pursuing a second postgraduate qualification.
However, in December 2000, clause 7.7 of the higher education grants scheme 2000 was amended to provide financial assistance to eligible candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and who wish to enter a further postgraduate course, which represents progression from the first postgraduate qualification attained. I understand the student to which the Deputy refers already holds a Master's degree. I regret that as the higher diploma course the student pursued in the 2004-05 academic year did not represent progression from a Master's degree, as defined in clause 7.7 of the scheme, the student the Deputy refers to is not eligible for grant assistance.
Notwithstanding the provision for progression at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, the objective of the schemes of student support is to assist as many students as possible in obtaining at least one undergraduate and one postgraduate degree. I regret the news is not better with regard to this student, but the Deputy will appreciate that the terms of the schemes are of general application and it is not open to me to make exceptions in individual cases. Section 21 of 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 tax relief applies at the standard rate of tax and is available to full-time and part-time postgraduate students. Further details and conditions in relation to tax relief are available from local tax offices.
