asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the future of the several training colleges for primary teachers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training Colleges.
74.
Mr. R. Burke
I hope to be in a position in the near future to make a full statement in relation to the whole question of the future arrangements to be made for the training of national school teachers in the context of the award of a degree at the end of the approved course of three years.
Does the Minister think that future arrangements will involve the closing of any of the existing training schools?
Mr. R. Burke
In order to be accurate about this the Deputy will have to ask me a question about a specific college. At present I do not envisage the closure of any.
75.
asked the Minister for Education if students attending teacher training colleges at the commencement of the 1974-75 school year will qualify for university scholarships.
Mr. R. Burke
The present position with regard to grants for students in teacher training colleges is that under special non-statutory schemes, such students are eligible for grants equivalent to the higher education grants payable under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Act, 1968, and subject to similar conditions.
When arrangements have been concluded by the training colleges with the several University institutes for the award of a University degree at the conclusion of a three-year course, consideration will be given to the question of such students being eligible to hold university scholarships while in the training colleges.