Vol. 553 No. 2
317 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to introduce maintenance grants for Irish students who obtain places in British teacher training colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13160/02]
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. 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, on the basis that these courses in Ireland were subject to a quota, based on policy decisions on the appropriate levels of graduate output.
Officials in my Department are at present considering the restriction applying in relation to the excepted courses, in the context of the review of the higher education grants scheme, 2002.
