Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Phil Hogan
Ceist:
125
Mr. Hogan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his attention has been drawn to the significant number of third level students attending Griffith College, Dublin; if he will consider the representations to have their courses included for grant purposes for their students; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19405/99]
Liam Aylward
Ceist:
126
Mr. Aylward
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if financial assistance will be made available to persons who applied for entry to two colleges in the Dublin area and paid their deposits due to the fact they were assured by the college authorities that they would qualify for third level grants and were subsequently informed that the courses do not qualify; and if he will have these courses (details supplied) covered for funding in view of the hardship imposed on both candidates.
[19406/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.
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 to include courses in colleges such as Griffith College or the Leinster School of Business must be considered in 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.
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 the Minister for Education and Science.
Finally, in relation to the question of any college assuring students of their entitlement to grants, I have asked my officials to contact both of the colleges referred to in the question to ensure that such assurances are not given in the future.
