Students traveling to and living in the Gaeltacht and studying with Bean an Tí have become an important source of income in these mostly rural areas.
On 17 September 2000 it was reported in The Sunday Mirror that Irish college sources said a small number of Mna Tí were then accommodating up to 30 students and earning up to £30,000 a year during peak holiday periods.
Later that year Na Mná Tí were given total tax exemption under the Irish Language Learners’ Scheme.
In March 2007, Sinn Féin councillor Pearse Doherty called for an urgent government response to the withdrawal of recognition from Coláiste an Phiarsaigh (Pearse College), the Irish language summer college in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore ).
He was concerned about the impact on the economic well-being and cultural life of the region and in particular with the future financial welfare of Mna Tí.