6 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the funding avenues open to Irish students studying for Masters of Music Therapy in New Zealand for 2011-2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4323/11]

The statutory framework for the student grants scheme, as set out in the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992, provides for means-tested higher education grants in order to assist students to attend full-time third level education.

The position is that the third level grant schemes do not extend to postgraduate study outside of Ireland.

There are no plans at present to extend the current arrangements to provide for students pursuing post-graduate courses outside Ireland. Any such extension could only be considered in the light of available resources and other competing demands within the education sector.