Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
446. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the plans for Gaeltacht courses in summer 2022 which must be completed by student teachers; if contingency planning has been put in place for online alternatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8072/22]
View answer456. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will address concerns raised by a person (details supplied) with respect to the mandatory Gaeltacht placement in summer 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8172/22]
View answer462. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Education if she will allow trainee teachers to complete an online alternative to their mandatory Gaeltacht placement in summer 2022 online (details supplied). [8257/22]
View answer466. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education if she is planning to allow trainee teachers to complete an online alternative to their mandatory Gaeltacht placement in summer 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8321/22]
View answer468. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education the alternative arrangements that have been made for trainee teachers who due to Covid-19 are not comfortable with being in shared accommodation to complete their Gaeltacht placement in summer 2022; if consideration has been given to providing an online alternative as was the case in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8339/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 446, 456, 462, 466 and 468 together.
Under the Teaching Council Standards for initial teacher education (ITE) at primary, all student teachers must complete a 4 week Gaeltacht learning period (GLP) (2x 2 weeks) as part of their programme. This is compulsory in order to graduate. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional Gaeltacht learning periods could not go ahead as planned and my Department and Teaching Council agreed that these could take place online. This ensured that there were no barriers to students completing their ITE programme and graduating as planned in 2020 and in 2021.
Both my Department and other key stakeholders expect that Irish language courses in the Gaeltacht for student teachers will be in a position to resume in the traditional manner this year.
While the primary responsibility for the overall administration of Gaeltacht-based Irish language courses rests with the relevant Gaeltacht college authorities – both the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and my Department together play a key role in overall support of the sector. My Department will continue to keep this matter under review, taking account of the evolving public health guidance at all times and will continue to consult as necessary with stakeholders on the matter - including the Teaching Council, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Higher Education Institutions and the representative body for the Gaeltacht Colleges.
