1402. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department have plans to provide a placement grant and additional financial assistance to student teachers during their training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58820/26]

School placement is a central feature of initial Teacher Education (ITE) Programmes. Student teachers must successfully complete this element of the programme.

The principal aim and function of school placement is to help the student teacher develop practical skills through observing and reflecting on the professional teacher working with pupils in the classroom. This will enable them to bring together the theoretical and practical elements of the course work with the aim of acquiring practical skills in classroom management, curriculum planning, and the organisation of pupils learning activities.

The Teaching Council, as the professional regulatory body for teaching, has statutory responsibility for the accreditation of ITE programmes and for the registration of primary and post-primary teachers.

Revised standards for the accreditation of programmes of ITE, Céim – Standards for Initial Teacher Education, were published by the Teaching Council in November 2020. Céim sets out the requirements that all ITE programmes in Ireland must meet in order to gain accreditation from the Teaching Council. It is also a benchmark for anybody seeking to register as a teacher in Ireland. In line with these revised standards, primary and post primary student teachers must spend between 24 and 30 weeks on school placement as part of their ITE programme.

As school placement is a mandatory element of ITE programmes, state grants such as SUSI continue to be paid during school placement periods.

A Student Assistance Fund Placement project has been announced by my colleague, the Minister for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). The placement support will be provided in a number of institutions, on a pilot basis, for students undertaking placements across the Higher Education sector. The guidelines for the Student Placement Support payment are currently under consideration, and it will be rolled out at the start of the 2026/27 academic year.

Any student experiencing financial hardship can apply to the Student Assistance Fund (SAF) which provides financial support to full or part-time students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college. Students can apply to the SAF, through their higher education institution Access office, to help with either temporary or ongoing financial difficulties. The SAF is available to help with costs such as books and class materials, rent and other utility bills, food, essential travel, childcare costs, medical costs etc.

There is information available on the supports available to student teachers at the following links: Student Finance | Funding, Governance and Performance | Higher Education Authority and www.teachingcouncil.ie/how-to-become-a-teacher/