Third Level Admissions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2020

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Ceisteanna (309, 376)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

309. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Teaching Council is requiring the completion of a two-week Gaeltacht placement for certain cohorts of students before their qualifications from a college (details supplied) will be recognised in 2021 while for others who started the relevant course six months earlier, the requirement has been waived; the reason for this divergence and inequality of treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6500/20]

Frank Feighan

Ceist:

376. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address a matter regarding a college course (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6832/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 and 376 together.

As you may be aware, my Department and the Teaching Council issued a joint statement on 23 March 2020 advising that in light of the emergency measures being adopted in relation to Covid-19, students who are in the final year of their Initial Teacher Education programme will not be required to complete the usual Gaeltacht Learning Period in order to graduate in summer 2020.

In the case of student teachers in all other years of their ITE programme, the Gaeltacht requirement is being postponed, to be fulfilled at a later point in the programme.

Completion of the Gaeltacht placement is an important element of programmes of initial teacher education for primary teachers and therefore a requirement for registration with the Teaching Council.