Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); if she will provide an update on this person's PME scheme application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67351/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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This Government is 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 range of measures have been introduced to support schools in their recruitment efforts. One such measure is the PME Fee Refund Scheme. The Department published Circular 0069/2024 Professional Master of Education (PME) Fee Refund Scheme in September 2024. This circular provides the eligibility criteria and application process for the scheme. The circular also states that applicants must be newly qualified teachers that have successfully completed a PME programme in 2024 calendar year. The completion of the course work in itself does not satisfy the requirement that applicants have successfully completed their PME programme. To have successfully completed a PME programme, a student must have received their results from the provider showing the successful completion of the programme.

As part of the verification process, the Department confirmed with the Teaching Council those applicants who graduated with a PME qualification in 2024.

Over 1,800 applications were received. My Department continues to process applications and expects to have payments processed for eligible applications in the coming weeks. Almost 1,400 teachers have been paid to date and further payments will issue as applications are finalised.

I can confirm that my Department has been in contact with the person referred to in the question in relation to their application.