Vol. 467 No. 4
175 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Education whether the new regulations on grants and income tax allowances introduced in respect of thirdlevel fees will apply or offer any assistance to students studying in the United States of America; and if so, the assistance, if any, available under her Department's sports section to students (details supplied) on sports scholarships in the United States of America, even towards travel expenses. [13273/96]
The recently announced extension of means tested maintenance grants under the 1996 schemes of student support refers only to students following full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in an EU member state. This extension does not apply to students studying outside the EU.
The provisions in relation to tax relief on tuition fees in the Finance Act, 1995 apply to approved courses in approved private colleges in the State. The provisions in the Finance Act, 1996 in relation to tax relief on part-time undergraduate tuition fees relate to courses in these colleges and also to courses in institutions which are approved under the higher education grants scheme.
The grant schemes and income tax provisions do not offer any assistance to students studying in the United States of America.
My Department has no scheme under which funding is available to students taking up sports scholarships.
