Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Tom Hayes

Question:

150 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to provide grant aid for trainee teachers to assist in the purchase of materials, aids and travel while they are teaching as part of their course training. [15823/03]

Seán Crowe

Question:

303 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the financial pressures put on student teachers during their teaching practice; and his plans to alleviate this pressure. [16004/03]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 303 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 and there is no special financial assistance available to students.

I would point out that teacher education programmes provided in approved third level colleges, are approved courses for the purposes of the 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 have no plans to introduce a scheme of financial assistance, over and above current provision, for travel and materials cost incurred by student teachers while on teaching practice.