Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 October 2019
123. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure there is an adequate number of replacement teachers trained to teach in schools for deaf and blind children as teachers in these schools retire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43790/19]
View answerIt is a matter for school Boards of Management to recruit appropriately qualified teachers, including teachers of children who are deaf/hard of hearing and/or blind/visually impaired.
Management bodies and schools have, in recent years, reported difficulties in recruiting teachers.
In response to these difficulties, the Teacher Supply Steering Group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was established in March 2018.
The Steering Group is considering the issues that relate to teacher supply under four policy headings:
- 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 is supported in its work by the Teacher Supply Implementation Group and a number of working groups that are looking at specific policy areas.
In undertaking its task, the Steering 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.
The Steering Group is overseeing the Action Plan for Teacher Supply, which I published in November 2018 with twenty-two actions in the four policy areas.
The Steering Group and the various working groups reporting to it continue to meet on a regular basis and I hope to be in a position to announce further developments in this area over the coming months.
A number of other actions were taken in recent years also, including the suspension on limit on the number of days teachers on career break can work as substitutes and schools were reminded that, in considering career break applications, the needs of pupils should take precedence and they must take account of the availability of appropriate qualified replacement teachers.
With regard to continued professional development for teachers in the education of students who are deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Regional Support Service, which has incorporated the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behavioural Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for the Visually Impaired and Hearing Impaired since 2017, provides advice and support to schools on the education and inclusion of students with special educational needs, providing in-school support for teachers and continuing professional development for teachers.
The NCSE Support Service has a role to enhance the quality of learning and teaching of students with special educational needs through the provision of CPD and support for teachers in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special classes and special schools.
It is also enhancing the multi-disciplinary capacity of the education system through providing access to expert knowledge including the education of students who are deaf/hard of hearing and/or blind/visually impaired.
Visiting teachers are teachers with particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss and/or visual impairment. They offer longitudinal support to children, their families and school staff from the time of referral through to the end of post-primary education.
Through applications to NCSE’s Supports Service, schools and individual teachers can access support in all areas of special education, including support in relation to students who are deaf and/or blind. Current training available to teaching staff in the area of deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired include:
- School Based Seminars including NCSE designed and delivered Seminars
- On-line and elearning
- College and university post graduate courses in Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Blind/Visual Impairment
The Support Service also provides funding for individual teachers and whole school staff in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special classes and special schools to undertake courses in Irish Sign Language, which are available throughout the country through a variety of providers.
On 24 January 2019, I launched a new undergraduate programme in DCU that enables deaf and hard of hearing people who use Irish Sign Language (ISL) to enter primary teaching.
