Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2017
200. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the lack of modern language teachers available for employment, especially in the case of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; if his Department has examined the reasons for a shortage of modern language teachers available for employment at second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44010/17]
View answerMy Department has been made aware that there may be difficulties for schools in recruiting teachers of certain subjects, including teachers of modern languages. My Department is not aware of the specific case of the school to which the Deputy refers.
I might draw the Deputy’s attention to the final report of the Technical Working Group on teacher supply, ‘Striking the Balance’, which was published on 9 June 2017. The report focusses on the development of a model of primary teacher supply, while outlining the work which will be required to establish a sustainable long term model of post primary teacher supply. The report sets out an approach to planning the work necessary to develop a model for achieving a better balance between teacher supply and demand in the medium to long term.
Officials of my Department are now considering how the development of a model can be progressed, from within available resources. The necessary actions will include engagement with the HEA in order to ensure that the supply of teachers meets demand and there is the correct balance of teachers in each of the various subject areas at post primary level, including for modern languages, as well as measures to address data requirements, particularly at post primary level.
The Deputy may wish to note that a key commitment in my Department's Action Plan for Education is the publication of a Foreign Languages in Education Strategy. This is a priority issue for me in the context of my goal of making Ireland’s education system the best in Europe. The Strategy recognises that to ensure a supply of graduates with foreign language competences for the education sector, there will need to be a greater uptake of foreign languages in higher education. My Department is currently finalising the strategy, which, it is intended, will be published shortly.
