Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 January 2016
428. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Skills how an applicant for third level primary teaching is determined as being a Gaeltacht applicant; and if she will provide details of the procedure involved. [2886/16]
View answerIn accordance with Government policy in support of the Gaeltacht and the Irish Language, there is a long-standing provision whereby up to 10% of the teacher training places in the colleges of education may be reserved for Gaeltacht applicants. To qualify as a Gaeltacht applicant a person must be resident in an officially designated Gaeltacht area and it must be confirmed that the normal language of the home is Irish. Prospective candidates apply through the CAO. The arrangements to verify applicants' eligibility for the September 2016 scheme under the criteria set out above are currently being finalised.
The Deputy may be aware that it has been proposed in the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language that up to 20% of places in colleges of education would be retained for students educated through Irish in Gaeltacht schools and Gaelscoileanna, with students in English medium schools also being eligible, subject to a high performance threshold in Irish in the Leaving Certificate. My Department is currently considering advice from the Teaching Council on entry requirements to courses of initial teacher education, including the Gaeltacht entry scheme to the Bachelor of Education.
