Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 December 2012
236. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if attendance on gaeltacht placement is a required element of programmes of initial primary teacher education and a requirement for registration; the cost of such placements and the financial assistance available to students to attend such course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56677/12]
View answer237. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the cost of Gaeltacht placements particularly to students in receipt of higher education grants, if he intends to provide grant aid to attend these courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56678/12]
View answer238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals in the 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language in relation to Gaeltacht placements for primary school teacher education students; the steps he has taken to ensure the implementation of this aspect of the strategy; the funding provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56679/12]
View answer243. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any level of subsidy will be provided for students in first year in 2012-2013 towards the cost of their two week teacher training courses over the Easter term break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56749/12]
View answer244. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the level of subsidy that was provided to each student undertaking primary teacher training courses in 2011-2012 towards their mandatory two week Irish training courses in a Gaeltacht college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56750/12]
View answer245. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has decided to discontinue subsidising two week Irish training courses in the Gaeltacht, which are mandatory for first year students who are studying to become primary education teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56751/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 238, inclusive, and 243 to 245, inclusive, together.
Attendance on the Gaeltacht placement is a required element of programmes of initial teacher education for primary teachers and so a requirement for registration with the Teaching Council.
The 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language states in relation to Gaeltacht placements for primary school teacher education students that "student teachers will follow a defined programme of language teaching in the Gaeltacht. The tuition time and attendance of student teachers who attend Gaeltacht courses will also be increased." The Teaching Council has set out that student primary teachers will now complete four weeks Gaeltacht Placement in total in two separate blocks and has also set out revised criteria for course structure and content.
A grant of €637 per student per 3 week course was paid directly to the Gaeltacht Colleges by my Department for students who commenced their primary initial teacher education course prior to 2012/13. As part of the Government's budgetary considerations and the Comprehensive Expenditure Review in 2011, a decision was made to abolish the payment of the grants by this Department towards the cost of student teachers' attendance at Gaeltacht courses.
The decision came into effect for students commencing their programme of primary initial teacher education in the 2012/13 academic year. This move brings the primary ITE courses more into line with other degree programmes where students are required to bear the costs of additional special requirements themselves. The student grant is the main source of financial assistance available from the Irish State for students in full-time higher education undergraduate courses. Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of the scheme.
Primary initial teacher education students who are in receipt of a student grant which includes a 100% fee grant or who would have qualified for a full fee grant but for the Free Fees Schemes, can apply for funding towards travel and accommodation costs under the field trip element of a fee grant subject to the normal terms and conditions of the student grant scheme.
Apart from the student grant system, in circumstances of particular need students may apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund which assists students in third-level institutions in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The Access Officers themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to enable them to continue with their studies.
