Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 April 2014
55. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will make an assessment on the impact of the lack of availability of the back to education allowance for students training to be secondary teachers in view of the fact the course has the status of a masters level qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16872/14]
View answerRecommendations for changes to initial teacher education were included in the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 and have been incorporated into the Teaching Council's Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education and Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers. Both were published in 2011. The improvements to be made to post graduate courses for post-primary teaching include the reconfiguration of the content and the subsequent increasing of the duration of courses to two years. The designation of the reconfigured and extended programme as a Masters was a decision taken by the higher education institutions involved.
The Back to Education Allowance is a matter for the Department of Social Protection. However, I understand that a decision has been made that the new Professional Masters in Education courses that will be available as a two year course from September 2014 at level 9 will not be eligible for the BTEA scheme. I have asked my officials to make enquiries with the Department of Social Protection in relation to this matter.
However, other supports may be available. Students entering post graduate programmes who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the costs of their fees. The income threshold for this payment is €31,500 for the 2013/14 academic year, increasing relative to the number of family dependents.
Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation to this relief are available from the Revenue Commissioners. In addition to this, the Student Assistance Fund will continue to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need.
