Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2013
297. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explain the student financial options available to students of higher diplomas in education, who qualified for such diploma via completion of courses at the same FETAC level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30716/13]
View answerThe main financial support available to students attending higher education is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. Students commencing a new course in the academic year 2013/14 are required to submit their grant application to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) via www.susi.ie. to have their eligibility for grant assistance assessed.
To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. In the absence of all of the details that would be contained in an individual's application form, it is not possible for me to say if the student is progressing to a course at a higher level. Tax relief is also available on tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
