Dick Spring
Ceist:279 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to extend the payment of higher education grants to students pursuing a higher diploma in England. [17194/00]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
The student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to eligible students pursuing certain full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in another EU member state as and from the 1996-97 academic year. The extension of the schemes at that time did not include courses at post-graduate level and accordingly, there is no grant aid available for students pursuing post-graduate studies outside Ireland. Any extension of the arrangements to provide for students pursuing post-graduate courses outside Ireland could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector.
However, the Deputy may be aware that section 21 of the Finance Act, 2000, provides for the introduction of tax relief for post-graduate fees paid in publicly funded colleges here and in other EU member states as well as in private colleges in the State. This new relief, which is available for the tax year 2000-01 onwards, will apply at the standard rate of tax. It will be available to full time and part time post-graduate students and includes distance education courses offered here by publicly funded colleges in other EU member states. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from local tax offices.