Third Level Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022

Thursday, 24 November 2022

Ceisteanna (285)

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

285. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the agreements reached between the Irish and UK governments post-Brexit provide that Irish students wishing to study at postgraduate level in the UK pay the same fees as British students; if such students are eligible for maintenance grants under the Irish student grants scheme; if students undertaking distance-learning postgraduate courses at a UK university are covered by the post-Brexit agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58644/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The Memorandum of Understanding on the Education Principles for the Common Travel Area, which I signed in July of 2021, commits the Irish and UK Governments to maintain reciprocal rights of Irish and British citizens to access programmes in higher education institutions in each other's States on terms no less favourable that the citizens of that State. The question in respect of distance or online learning which has been raised by my officials with their UK counterparts is also covered, provided the student is resident in the UK for the duration of their studies. They have been assured by the Department of Education in London that this condition equally applies to UK citizens.

The Student Grant Scheme only applies to undergraduate programmes in the UK.

However, students may be able to claim tax relief at the standard rate of tax may in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education, including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief is available from the student’s local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie.