Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
338. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education what plans his Department has to subsidise the Gaeltacht fees for post primary teaching students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19299/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements as part of the ITE programme. This requirement is outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education. The programmes shall follow Na Siollabais Oifigiúla do na Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht do Mhic Léinn Oideachais. Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary ITE programmes, with effect from the 2020/2021 academic year. The grant was previously funded by my Department up to the 2012/2013 academic year, when it was ceased due to financial constraints.
As outlined in the Post Primary Curricular Subject Requirements, prior to completion of their teacher education studies, post-primary student teachers should (where relevant) provide verifiable evidence of an immersive educational experience in the curricular language that they are studying of a minimum of four weeks duration. This may be accessed in two blocks, each of which must be at least two weeks. In the case of Gaeilge, at least one of these blocks must be in a Gaeltacht setting with the option of one block in an Irish medium setting.
The immersive educational experience(s) for Gaeilge must be one of the following:
• attending an Irish language course
• working as a staff member in an educational setting in the Gaeltacht
• conducting an action research project which is of relevance to their teaching studies
• engaging in School Placement.
These are different requirement to that for primary student teachers, for whom attendance at a programme of study in a Gaeltacht college is compulsory, as part of their ITE programmes.
With regards to post primary student teachers, the requirement to attend at a programme of study in a Gaeltacht college is only one of the four options available to satisfy the evidence of an immersive educational experience in Gaeilge.
As such, the GLP grant is not made available for students on post primary ITE programmes.
