Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 4

Written Answers. - Third Level Fees.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

317 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the rules which exclude returned Irish emigrants from free fees and higher education grants for third level study in Ireland in view of the discrimination of Irish citizens involved, as is in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [23249/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

Under the free fees initiative, tuition fees are payable in respect of eligible EU nationals who have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved full-time undergraduate course, which must be pursued in an approved college in the Republic. I understand that the student in question is attending the University of Ulster and I would point out to the Deputy that colleges-institutions in Northern Ireland are not included in the free fees initiative.

Furthermore, as the Deputy may be aware, Irish students, along with all other EU students, including NI students, who commence courses in Northern Ireland in 1998-9, will be asked to contribute up to £1,000 per annum towards tuition fees for undergraduate courses. However, all EU students will be eligible for grant assistance from the authorities towards their undergraduate tuition fees, subject to the same conditions including means testing as will be applied to Northern Ireland students. Irish students must apply for assistance to their appropriate education and library board. I would advise that the student in question contact the appropriate Northern Ireland education and library board in order to apply for grant assistance towards his tuition fees. In this regard, I understand that the means test arrangements are such that students who quality for maintenance grants under the higher education grants scheme will generally qualify for grant assistance towards their tuition fees. In this regard, I also understand that the student in question is in receipt of a maintenance grant under the higher education grant scheme from Monaghan County Council.