Vol. 506 No. 4
56 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason students from this country undertaking primary teacher training courses in the United Kingdom are not entitled to higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14166/99]
In 1996, the student support schemes were extended to provide maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses in other EU member states. Prior to this, grants were only payable to students who were pursuing approved courses in the Republic and Northern Ireland. In general, the approved courses in other EU member states are full-time undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration pursued in a university or third level institution, which is maintained or assisted by recurrent grants from public funds. There are however, a number of excepted courses including those in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and teacher training courses including those leading to the award of Bachelor of Education. These courses in Ireland are subject to a quota based on policy decisions on the levels of graduate output which would be appropriate to the needs of the Irish economy and society. In this context, it was decided that it would not be appropriate to limit the number of students on such courses in Ireland while at the same time providing maintenance grants to students on similar courses abroad. The question of the continued exclusion of these courses from the higher education grants schemes will be kept under review.
