Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide basic expenses for trainee teachers to cover the high costs they incur during mandatory teaching practice placements; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulty that many such trainee teachers have in being unable financially to meet the requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10672/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Teacher education programmes, provided in approved third level institutions, are recognised for the purposes of the Higher Education Grants Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant holders who are required to participate in off-campus placement, including teaching practice, as part of their course of study continue to receive their entitlements during this period.

My Department funds four maintenance grant schemes for third level and further education students which are administered by the Local Authorities and the Vocational Education Committees. The Higher Education Grant Scheme operates under the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts, 1968 to 1992. Generally speaking, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for maintenance grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to age, residence, means and nationality.

An approved third level course for the purpose of the HEG and the VEC Scholarship Schemes means a full-time undergraduate course of not less than two years duration and a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year's duration pursued in an approved institution. The Schemes outline the respective courses which are approved for grant purposes. In addition, my Department allocates funding each year to third level institutions under the Student Assistance Fund. This fund is available in order to assist students who may be experiencing difficulties in continuing their studies because of financial hardship. The disbursement of this funding is a matter for individual institutions in line with guidelines issued by my Department.

My Department has no plans to introduce an additional scheme of financial assistance, over and above the current provision, in relation to the training of teachers. However, my Department reviews the amount of grant payable under the schemes each year, taking into account the cost of living index and related factors.