Vol. 508 No. 3
360 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the improvements, if any, he is considering in the support to students studying in private colleges; if his Department continues to maintain its opposition to court proceedings initiated in this respect against his Department; and, if so, when the court case will be concluded. [18784/99]
The higher education grants scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. The annual higher education grants scheme, which I approve, sets out a list of approved institutions for the purposes of the scheme. An approved institution is defined to mean a university, university college or other institution of higher education in so far as it provides a course or courses of not less than two years duration, being a course or courses which the Minister for Education and Science approves for the time being for the purposes of the Acts.
The approved institutions mainly comprise the publicly funded third level institutions. However, there are a number of religious and other institutions that have been admitted to the scheme over the years.
Any extension of the existing arrangements in relation to the scope of the scheme must be considered in the light of overall resource constraints and the competing demands within the education sector. My priorities in the area of student support have been to introduce a maintenance grants scheme for students attending PLC courses from the 1998-99 academic year and to address the position of mature students under the various grant schemes from the current academic year. I would also remind the Deputy that this Government has funded a major increase in the number of places in public colleges.
The question of the non-inclusion of courses in private colleges within the free fees initiative is at issue in the case of Patrick Jordan Junior, Patrick Jordan Senior, Raymond Kearns and Barry v. the Minister for Education, Ireland and the Attorney General and I do not consider it appropriate to make a statement in the matter. I understand that the case has not as yet been set down for hearing and accordingly I do not know when the case will be concluded.
Finally, I would mention that tax relief is available for tuition fees paid by students who are attending private third level colleges. Such students, or their parents, as appropriate, can avail of tax relief, at the standard rate, on tuition fees paid in respect of full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in such colleges, provided that both the college and the course satisfy the prescribed codes of standards and are approved by me .
