Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2021
136. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if supports are available to persons working full-time and taking up a professional master's in education course online with a college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16092/21]
View answerUnder the Department's Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2020. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes.
As Hibernia College is a private educational institution, it does not come under the remit of the Student Grant Scheme. In the context of limited public funding and competing priorities, student support funding is currently targeted at full-time students undertaking study in approved publicly funded institutions. However it is open to higher education institutions that operate on a 'for profit' basis to use their own resources to provide financial supports to any of their students that they consider to be in particular need.
Also, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private colleges. Further information is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.
