Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
311. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills if students who are studying for a postgraduate course are entitled to the special rate of top-up for non adjacent students where the income is below €22,000 per annum but where the student, being a mature student, is not in receipt of any payment from the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37538/13]
View answerThose who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Currently maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses.
To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions: 1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term social welfare payment prescribed under the scheme.
A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents.
Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners.
In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.
