Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a refund under the PME fee refund scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21643/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This Government is fully committed to ensuring that every child has a positive school experience, with access to qualified and engaged teachers who are dedicated to supporting their learning.

A number of measures to support primary and post-primary schools to recruit teachers have been introduced including a €2,000 bursary-style fee refund for teachers graduating with a Professional Master of Education (PME) in 2024.

The objective of the Professional Master of Education (PME) fee refund scheme is twofold, to encourage newly qualified teachers (NQT), who completed a PME to take up teaching roles in return for a minimum level of service, and secondly to recognise some of the costs incurred in undertaking a PME.

Circular Number 0069/2024 refers to the Professional Master of Education (PME) Fee Refund Scheme and sets out the scheme's criteria. Applicants who complete a PME programme in 2024, are registered with the Teaching Council under Route 1 or Route 2 and who provide a minimum period of service in the 2024/25 school year will receive a payment of €2,000, subject to statutory deductions.

An online application portal for this scheme opened at the end of January this year and may be accessed at the following link: . The deadline for receipt of applications under this scheme is 31 July 2025.

My Department frequently consults and engages closely with stakeholders on issues such as teacher supply through industrial relations forums, sectoral meetings, and direct discussions with teacher unions.

In addition to recently announced measures, I will continue to consider further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.