Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 June 2016
89. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the ways, including investment, in which he supports continuous professional development for teachers at primary and at secondary level; the investment as a percentage of overall education spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18729/16]
View answerMy Department will spend approximately €46m on teacher continuing professional development (CPD) in 2016 across the primary and post primary sectors. The teacher CPD budget represents 0.74% of my Departments overall budget for first and second level - almost 7% if salary and pension costs are excluded from the Department's budget. The spend of €46m includes a) salary costs for support service personnel and b) substitution costs to facilitate teacher attendance at various CPD events and programmes. The professional development needs of serving teachers in recent years have been addressed through the provision of an induction programme for newly qualified teachers, national in-service for new or revised curriculum areas and ongoing support for the curriculum generally with a particular focus on priority areas - literacy and numeracy, well-being, support for school leaders and for teachers to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. The recently established Centre for School Leadership, a partnership between my Department, IPPN and NAPD, is intended to become a centre of excellence for school leaders. Its responsibilities cover the range of leadership development from pre-appointment training and induction of newly appointed principals, to CPD throughout leaders careers. Other areas of expenditure include training for child protection, Board of Management training, a Teacher Fee Refund Scheme, Teacher Professional Networks and a number of postgraduate programmes to meet particular identified needs such as the teaching of mathematics and special educational needs. CPD is provided in a variety of ways, for example, though Department funded support services, who use a variety of formats including seminars, workshops, on-line and in-school support. Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015, evidence of teacher learning (continuing professional development) may be a requirement for renewal of registration. The Teaching Council, the professional body and regulator for teachers has published its policy, Cosán, on teacher learning and will continue to engage with stakeholders including teachers in preparation for commencement of section 39 of the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 which will enable the Teaching Council to review and accredit programmes of continuing professional development.
