Vol. 510 No. 3
411 Mr. Roche asked the Minister for Education and Science if consideration is being given, in the context of the forthcoming budget, to the introduction of assistance to Irish students forced to take up third level education opportunities abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22667/99]
In 1996 the student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other EU member states. Prior to this, grants were only payable to students who were pursuing approved courses in the Republic and Northern Ireland. In general, the approved courses in other EU member states are full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. There are however a number of excepted courses including those in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and teacher training courses including those leading to the award of Bachelor of Education, on the basis that these courses in Ireland were subject to a quota based on policy decisions on the appropriate levels of graduate output.
Any extension of the current arrangements to provide for students pursuing courses abroad could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector generally.
