Vol. 574 No. 2
244 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person, details supplied, in County Sligo who is studying for a masters degree in journalism and is not entitled to the higher education grant, even though they have been living independently from their parent and have never received financial aid; if the decision will be rescinded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26835/03]
Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, administered by the local authorities and vocational education committees under the aegis of my Department, a student is not eligible for grant assistance in respect of a second period of study at the same level irrespective of whether a grant was paid previously. The schemes also provide that grants may not be paid to candidates who already hold a postgraduate qualification and are pursuing a second postgraduate qualification.
Clause 7.7 of the higher education grants scheme does provide for 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.
My Department understands that the candidate in question already holds a masters degree and accordingly, as the masters degree referred to by the Deputy does not represent progression, as defined in clause 7.7 of the scheme, the student is not eligible for grant assistance.
245 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if there are grant supports available for students attending private third level institutions. [26839/03]
The higher education grants scheme operates 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 which the Minister for Education and Science approves for the time being for the purposes of the Acts.
The annual higher education grants scheme which I approve sets out a list of approved institutions for the purposes of the scheme. The approved institutions mainly comprise the publicly funded third level institutions.
There are no plans to extend the scope of the student support schemes to private third level institutions. Any extension to the scope of the maintenance grants scheme, to include students attending private third level institutions, can be considered only in the light of available resources and in the context of competing demands within the education sector.
However, tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, is available on tuition fees paid to certain approved private third level institutions in respect of approved third level courses. Further details and conditions in relation to such tax relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners. Information is available from local tax offices or the central telephone information office at (01) 8736100 or Lo-Call 1890 60 50 90 or alternatively from Revenue's Internet site at www.revenue.ie
