Vol. 529 No. 2
174 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received a submission from an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 2 regarding the 3,900 post-graduates who are looking for proper funding; his Department's policy on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2619/01]
My Department has received a submission from the organisation referred to by the Deputy, regarding the funding of postgraduate students and the importance of the research carried out by them.
Students studying at postgraduate level may apply for financial assistance under the terms of the higher education grants scheme or, if appropriate, the vocational education committees' scholarship scheme. For 2000-01 the non-adjacent and adjacent rates of maintenance grant are £1,775 and £887 respectively.
A postgraduate grantholder is also eligible to have his-her fees paid up to a maximum amount of £3,064.
Last October, the student support schemes were amended to provide financial assistance to eligible candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and who wish to enter a further postgraduate course at a higher level, which represents progression from the level at which the first qualification was attained. This amendment is operative from the current academic year, 2000-01.
Section 21 of the Finance Act, 2000, provided 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.
