Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2018
94. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he can address the teacher shortages on offshore islands; and if a special career break, secondment scheme and incentives for teachers with families to take-up teaching positions on the islands will be considered. [42048/18]
View answerEarlier this year, my predecessor as Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton TD, established the Teacher Supply Steering Group which 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 Steering Group will oversee a programme of actions according to strict timelines and clear deliverables.
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.
As part of the Policy on Gaeltacht education 2017-2022, my predecessor Minister Bruton, introduced a number of measures which will support the supply of teachers to Irish-medium schools in the Gaeltacht, including the islands located in the Gaeltacht. In that regard 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 has been increased. Two new Irish-medium teacher education programmes were also announced. The new programmes will deliver up to 60 new places for teacher education through Irish annually. These will be delivered by the Marino Institute of Education and Mary Immaculate College. Marino Institute of Education will deliver a 4-year Irish-medium Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) for primary teachers commencing in 2019 and Mary Immaculate College has this year begun an Irish-medium Masters in Education (M.Ed.) for primary and post-primary teachers, including principals.
