Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 3

Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

86 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to introduce or recognise the importance of introducing a grant to B.Ed. and H.Dip. students whilst in teaching practice similar to that provided to nurses and gardaí in training in order that students can cover costs such as the education materials needed to provide effective lessons, with such a grant not affecting those receiving the maintenance grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5886/03]

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

The position on teaching practice is that it is not a paid activity in any institution but 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.

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 or her residence to undertake a placement of not less than one academic term, 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 am aware that assistance is made available to student nurses and Garda trainees in the course of their training. However, there are no plans to introduce a scheme of financial assistance for materials or other costs incurred by student teachers while on teaching practice.