Vol. 506 No. 4
32 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will re-examine the basis for withholding the third and final maintenance grant payment to postgraduate students finishing their final year in May 2000 following compulsory teaching practice for which they are not paid; and if he will consult with St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, and the education officer in USI to help remedy this anomaly. [14903/99]
The postgraduate course referred to by the Deputy is the graduate diploma in education (primary teaching) at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
The course, which commenced at the beginning of November 1998, will finish at the end of May 2000 and involves both college based study and teaching practice. In second year students will take their final exams at the end of February and will be engaged in compulsory teaching practice until the end of May 2000.
I can assure the Deputy that it is intended to pay the course participants who are in receipt of higher education grants three instalments of grant in respect of each year of attendance on this course, i.e. a total of six instalments over the entire duration of the course.
The position regarding grant payments for this course has been clarified with the local authorities and the vocational education committees.
