Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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794. To ask the Minister for Health if she will respond to correspondence received (details supplied) regarding radiation therapy students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6054/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Practice education placements are essential to support clinical skills development and the application of theory to patient care and attainment of regulatory required standards of proficiency where applicable. It is acknowledged that building and growing the student pipeline is dependent on having an appropriate practice education placement infrastructure, including physical accommodation and the appropriate staffing. Student radiation therapists are not employees, and the nature of the placement is in a learning capacity under supervision, meaning their status as students is protected.

Across health and social care disciplines, there are many students on placement in hospital and healthcare settings, approximately a third of which are final year students. The length of placements and the activities performed during these placements vary between the disciplines. These students are not employees, therefore not paid, and in many cases the nature of the placement can, in the main, be limited to participation in an observing and a learning capacity.

In general, there are no allowances or payments for HSCP students while completing placement hours in the health service. Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Dietetics and Radiography students do not receive an allowance to support time spent on clinical placements as part of their training.

Uniquely for student nurses and midwives there is, in the final year, a paid salary when they are specifically employed on an internship placement. Student nurses and midwives’ final year internship placement consists of a continual 36-week rostered clinical placement, including annual leave. The internship placement is a paid placement as the student nurses and midwives take a reduced caseload. During these placements, students are under supervision and are considered as 0.5 WTE of the workforce. In addition, Intern students can be allocated across all shift patterns including nights, weekends and 12-hour days.

There are a number of student grants and other financial supports available to students in further and higher education. Budget 2025 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These cost-of-living measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education students who are eligible for Free Fees.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science provides Student Grants to eligible applicants attending approved full time Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses. Grants include Maintenance Grants, Fee Grants and Student Contribution Grants. Budget 2024 increased the value of all Maintenance Grants and for the 2024/2025 values range between €612 - €7,586. Students who are not eligible for a maintenance grant may still be eligible for a student contribution grant which can cover your full student contribution charge, 50% of the charge or provide a €500 grant towards same. The income thresholds to qualify for a grant were increased in Budget 2025 and the higher thresholds will come into effect in September 2025. In addition, students experiencing exceptional financial need, may be eligible to apply for supports under the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) which has been supplemented by a further €10m under the Government’s cost of education supports in Budget 2025. Applications for support can be made in confidence to the Access Office in the higher education institution attended. This Fund can be used to meet costs such as childcare, rent, transport costs, books/class materials etc.