Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2018
135. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the measures he is taking to ensure that the need for second-level Irish teachers particularly those in Gaeltacht and Irish medium schools is met. [43000/18]
View answerA number of measures which will support the supply of post-primary teachers to Irish-medium schools in the Gaeltacht have been introduced as part of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022. The number of places available on the Irish-medium post-primary initial teacher education Professional Masters of Education (Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas) programme in NUIG as has been increased from 2018. Two new Irish-medium teacher education programmes were also announced, including an Irish-medium Masters on Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Education (M.Ed.) in Mary Immaculate College for primary and post-primary teachers which commenced in September 2018.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Teacher Supply Steering Group was established earlier this year. The Steering Group is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department.
The Group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; data/research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility/supply; and promotion of the teaching profession. The Group will oversee a programme of actions according to strict timelines and clear deliverables. It is supported by an Implementation Group and a number of working groups which are considering specific areas of interest.
In undertaking its task, the Group is cognisant of the requirement that all persons wishing to teach in recognised schools must meet the professional registration standards and criteria set by the Teaching Council, which is the professional regulatory body for the teaching profession.
At this point the Steering Group and, the working groups reporting to it, have met on a number of occasions and I hope to be in a position to announce further measures in this area over the coming months.
