Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 4

Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.

Tony Gregory

Question:

224 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the request from B.Ed students at St. Patrick's College, Dublin 9 that a special grant be made available to cover costs involved in their 16 weeks teaching practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6108/03]

Denis Naughten

Question:

265 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will meet with the students' union at St. Patrick's Teacher Training College; if a maintenance grant will be approved for teacher training students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6387/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 265 together.

The position in relation to teaching practice is that it is not a paid activity in any institution but rather is viewed as training rather than employment. It is an integral part of the curriculum of the degree programmes in education. There are no plans to introduce a scheme of financial assistance for materials or other costs incurred by student teachers while on teaching practice.

Teacher education programmes provided in approved third level colleges, are approved courses for the purposes of my Department's higher education grants scheme. Under the terms of that scheme, grantholders who are required to participate in off-campus placement as an integral part of their course may have their grant entitlement paid in the normal manner. Where the college requires a grantholder in receipt of the adjacent rate of grant to relocate from his/her residence in order to undertake a placement of not less than one academic term/semester, the non-adjacent rate of grant may be paid for the duration of such placement. Accordingly, student teachers who are eligible for grant assistance continue to receive their entitlements while undertaking teaching practice.

I will consider any request received from the students' union for a meeting and respond in due course.