Vol. 547 No. 3
382 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the assistance being made available to a person (details supplied) in County Meath to assist in completing a full-time third level college course; the sponsorship assistance which may be available to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3254/02]
The higher education grants schemes operate under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968 to 1992. An approved institution is defined to mean a university, university college or other institution of higher education in so far as it provides a course or courses of not less than two years duration, being a course, or courses, which the Minister for Education and Science approves for the time being for the purposes of the Acts.
Each year, the higher education grants scheme specifies a list of approved institutions for the purposes of the schemes. The approved institutions mainly comprise publicly funded third level institutions. The LSB College, which is the college attended in the case in question, is not an approved college for the purpose of the scheme. Any extension to the scope of the grants scheme to include private colleges such as LSB College can be considered only in the light of available resources and in the context of competing demands within the education sector.
Tax relief is available at the standard rate on tuition fees paid to certain private colleges, including LSB College. Further details and conditions in relation to such tax relief are available from local tax offices.
