Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2026
362. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the estimated cost of adding an additional week of immersion in the Gaeltacht to the programme for trainee teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49132/26]
View answerThe Gaeltacht Learning Placement (GLP) grant is a financial support provided by the Department to cover the cost of GLPs for undergraduate and postgraduate students in State-funded primary ITE programmes.
The current mandatory requirement for the Gaeltacht Learning Period for primary initial teacher education programmes is 4 weeks and takes the form of two 2-week placements blocks. These requirements are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education.
Based on current rates and the expected intake of students in the upcoming year, an additional week of immersion in the Gaeltacht Learning Period programme would cost an estimated €1.2m.
Assumptions are based on providing an additional week for the State-funded HEI students, running consecutively to a two-week placement block.
