Vol. 433 No. 6
133 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the assistance that is available from her Department or the EC to students who wish to pursue studies in summer schools while on vacation from their normal studies; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department awards 31 scholorships to students from other countries to participate in summer schools in this country. These scholarships are awarded as part of Cultural Agreements which Ireland has with several European countries. The value of the scholarship in each case is £300.
In the case of Irish Language summer colleges, Coláistí Samhraidh, my Department operates a special scheme under which capitation grants to a maximum of £23 per student are paid to the authorities of colleges recognised under the scheme towards the tuition costs of first and second level pupils attending approved courses. In addition, in the case of trainee primary teachers from the colleges of education who attend compulsory courses in the Coláistí Samhraidh, my Department pays to the coláistí both a capitation grant of up to £25 per student in respect of tuition costs and a further grant of £150per capita in respect of accommodation costs.
