Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Teachers' Professional Development

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017

Tuesday, 10 October 2017

Ceisteanna (169, 170, 171, 173, 174)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

169. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reintroduce financial support for student primary teachers in respect of attendance at a mandatory course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42246/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Clare Daly

Ceist:

170. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reintroduce financial support for students of primary teaching for the mandatory Gaeltacht course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42255/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Curran

Ceist:

171. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reinstate support for student primary teachers toward the cost of mandatory Gaeltacht courses (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42256/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

173. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reinstate the support subsidies for primary school teachers who undertake residential Gaeltacht courses as part of their teacher training that were cut in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42272/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Mick Wallace

Ceist:

174. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to restore subsidies for student teachers' attendance at mandatory Gaeltacht courses which would help to alleviate the burden of these expenses on students. [42274/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 to 171, inclusive,173 and 174 together.

The decision to stop the Gaeltacht placement grants was taken during the economic crisis when, unfortunately, very difficult decisions had to be made to stabilise the nation's finances. Priority was given to protecting resources for front-line education services as far as possible, which remains particularly challenging with rising numbers of school-going children. My Department does not have the funding available to restore this support.

It should be noted that, to assist with the costs of the Gaeltacht placement, 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 toward 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 this, in circumstances of particular need, students may apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. Information in relation to this fund is available through the Access Officer in the third-level institution attended.

Barr
Roinn