To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time students resident in the Irish Republic attended (a) further and (b) higher education colleges in Northern Ireland in 2005; at what total cost to the education budget in that year; and what proportion of this cost was paid by the Government of the Irish Republic. (84934)

The number of full-time students resident in the Irish Republic attending further education colleges in Northern Ireland in the 2004-05 academic year was 1,010. The cost of this to the further education budget in that year was in the region of £3.5 million. No element of the cost of the further education budget was paid by the Government of the Irish Republic.

The number of full-time students resident in the Irish Republic attending higher education colleges in Northern Ireland in the 2004-05 academic year was 2,249. The approximate cost of this to the higher education budget in that year was £7.8 million. No element of this cost was paid by the Government of the Irish Republic.