Vol. 512 No. 1
74 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to enable post graduate students attending United Kingdom universities where the course is unavailable here to receive higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25414/99]
In 1996-97, the student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students following certain full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another EU member state. The extension of the schemes at that time did not include courses at postgraduate level and accordingly, there is no grant aid available for students pursuing postgraduate studies abroad, irrespective of whether or not that course is available in Ireland.
I have no plans to extend the current arrangements and indeed, I should point out that any extension of the current arrangements to provide for students pursuing post-graduate courses in the United Kingdom and in the EU generally, could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector.
