Vol. 525 No. 1
175 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange EU student status for a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in order that she can commence her degree studies at University College Cork in October 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23697/00]
Under my Department's free fees initiative, the State meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at approved colleges. It only applies to first time, full-time undergraduate students pursuing courses to which free fees apply.
Under the free fees initiative, tuition fees are payable in respect of eligible EU nationals who have been ordinarily resident in an EU member state for at least three of the five years preceding entry to their third level course. This condition applies equally to all EU nationals, including Irish nationals, in accordance with the judgment of the European Court of Justice that access to vocational training must apply equally to all EU nationals. Similar residency requirements operate in some other EU member states.
Under the higher education grants scheme and the VEC scholarships scheme a candidate who is not eligible for free tuition under the free fees initiative may be awarded a full or part grant in respect of lecture fees provided s/he meets all other conditions of the schemes. In order to be eligible for an award under these schemes, a candidate must fulfil conditions as to residence, age, academic attainments, means and nationality. In order to fulfil the residency requirement a candidate's parents or, in the case of an independent mature candidate, the candidate herself/himself must have been resident in the administrative area of the local authority from 1 October of the year prior to entry on an approved course.
The criteria for eligibility for free fees are of general application and exceptions in individual cases cannot be made. The issue of citizenship, Irish or EU, is not a matter for my Department.
176 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding available to a person (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the fact the she does not qualify for a back to education allowance and needs to pursue studies for work purposes. [23701/00]
The statutory framework for the maintenance grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education. In order to qualify for grant assistance, a candidate must satisfy the relevant conditions of the scheme in regard to age, residency, means and nationality.
I understand that the student, to whom the Deputy refers, holds a masters degree qualification and now wishes to pursue a course at PhD level.
The terms of the higher education grants scheme have precluded the payment of a grant to candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are pursuing a second postgraduate qualification. I have this issue under review at present.
Separately, section 21 of the Finance Act, 2000, provides for the introduction of tax relief for postgraduate 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 and will be available to full-time and part-time postgraduate students. Further details and conditions in relation to this tax relief are available from local tax offices.
