Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - Post-graduate Fees.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

108 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to abolish third level post-graduate fees; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that post-graduate fees have risen in every institution since the abolition of undergraduate fees; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that post-graduate qualifications are becoming a necessary requirement for employment; and if he will recommend the abolition of fees to Government. [3178/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

A decision was taken in 1995 by the then Government to phase out fees for students attending full-time undergraduate courses in approved third level colleges. There are no plans to extend the free fees initiative to postgraduate students.

I have, however, made proposals to the Minister for Finance, in the context of the Finance Bill to be published shortly, to the effect that tax relief should, in certain circumstances, be extended to fees paid by postgraduate students. Postgraduate students who fulfil the conditions of the third level maintenance grant schemes are eligible to have their fees paid by the grant awarding body.