Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers that availed of the fee refund scheme in each of the years from 2011 to 2016; the average amount paid to teachers in fee refunds in each of the years from 2011 to 2016; if these payments differ between primary and post-primary teachers; the number of applications to avail of funding in each of the years from 2011 to 2016; the funding provided for the scheme in each of the years from 2011 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53548/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme is to provide funding towards the cost of course participation and examination fees on successful completion of professional development courses that are directly relevant and of benefit to schools and that are subject to certification/award by an appropriate accreditation authority recognised by my Department.

Applications for funding under the Scheme are made retrospectively for a course undertaken during the previous academic year.

My Department allocates €500,000 per annum to the scheme.  

The Refund of Fees scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by Marino Institute of Education. 

The table provides the number of teachers availing of the Scheme from the 2011/12 academic year to the most recent data available which is for the 2015/16 academic year. The table provides the average amount paid to teachers in each year.