Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
473. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education when a reply to correspondence will issue to this Deputy in relation to Gaeltacht placements (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11230/22]
View answerThe Deputy will note that a reply to this correspondence issued last week, which was within the timeframe for written replies to correspondence which my Department strives to achieve, as set out in the Department of Education Customer Charter.
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.
