Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide radiation therapy students with a payment and travel allowances during their final-year internship in line with supports offered to student nurses, particularly in light of the finding of the National Radiation Therapist Review that there is a 30% shortage of radiation therapists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6458/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Providing additional places on programmes of acute skills shortage, including radiation therapy, is a priority for my Department. Officials have been engaging with colleagues in the Department of Health, HSE and HEA to expand current provision in Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork.

Placement hours are a requirement of the regulator to meet the standards of professional capability necessary to practice in a regulated profession. In the case of health and social care professions the principal regulator is CORU, under the aegis of the Department of Health, which sets the standards of education and training required for the professions which fall within its remit.

Regarding any payments while on placement, this is a matter for the relevant employer, which would be, in the public sector the HSE, and in other cases, private providers. My Department does not provide payments for students while on placement for expenses incurred.

Financial assistance for students can be applied for via SUSI for the Student Grant Scheme. My Department also funds the Student Assistance Fund (SAF). The SAF assists students in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended and on . This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.