Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 733: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that over 5,000 primary school trainee teachers must fund all of their teaching practice resource materials and that the average cost per student of such materials is €350; if she will introduce a scheme to subsidise the cost of the resource materials; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20222/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 744: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received correspondence from a person (details supplied); if favourable consideration will be given regarding teaching practice expenses for trainee primary school teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20280/07]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 769: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps she is taking to ensure that the substantial costs applying to student teachers associated with their work are met by her Department; the provision that is currently made by her Department for materials and other such costs; her plans to introduce an additional subsidy to fully meet these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20570/07]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 776: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has plans to address the issue of teaching practice expenses for trainee primary school teachers; her views on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20609/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 733, 744, 769 and 776 together.

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 such 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 to assist students who may be experiencing difficulties in continuing their studies due to financial hardship. The disbursement of this funding is a matter for individual institutions in line with guidelines issued by my Department.

My Department annually reviews the amount of grant payable under the Schemes, taking into account the cost of living index and other relevant factors.

There are no plans, at present, to introduce any additional scheme of financial assistance for trainee teachers.