Parliamentary Question addressed to the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are any financial
supports available for student teachers to facilitate their participation in
the Gaeltacht placement programme where their means are limited; and if he will
make a statement on the matter.
 

Reply

As part of the Government’s budgetary considerations and the Comprehensive
Expenditure Review last year, a decision was made to abolish the payment of
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. As
the Deputy will be aware, priority is being given to protecting resources for
front line services in the coming years.

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. In addition, the field trip element of a fee grant may
also be payable subject to the terms and conditions of the student grant
scheme.  A further limited number of students who would previously have
qualified under the standard grant thresholds will qualify to have a
contribution made towards the costs of their fees.

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.