§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many students from Northern Ireland have their tuition fees paid while attending educational institutions in the Irish Republic; [40560]
(2) what are the estimated savings to the Northern Ireland budget from the 1996–97 academic year onwards arising from students from Northern Ireland at public sector educational institutions in the Irish Republic no longer being required to have their tuition fees paid by education and library boards in Northern Ireland; and how many students in the last year have been paid grants in respect of their applications meeting the eligibility requirement of United Kingdom residence and schooling in the Irish Republic during the last three years. [40561]
§ Mr. AncramIn the 1994–95 academic year tuition fees were paid for 1,622 students from Northern Ireland attending education institutions in the republic of Ireland. Final figures are not available for the current academic year.
The savings referred to are estimated at £1.7 million in the 1996–97 financial year and at £2 million in both the 1997–98 and 1998–99 financial year.
Some 583, 891 and 1,370 Northern Ireland students attending institutions of higher education in the Republic of Ireland were in receipt of maintenance grant in the last three academic years.