Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 June 2025
392. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if, in light to the popularity of Irish-medium education, she has any plans to increase the number of places offered on the course at Marino Institute of Education given the shortage of teachers applying for positions in Gaeltacht schools and Gaelscoileanna; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33707/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government includes a commitment to increase dedicated Irish-medium teacher training programmes, and I am delighted that progress has already been made in this area. Marino Institute of Education have recently announced the establishment of an Irish-medium pathway in their PME (primary teaching) programme. Supports for the pathway are being provided by my department and by COGG.
A number of teacher education actions are currently funded by my department under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to increase the supply of teachers available to teach effectively through the medium of Irish. This includes funding for the Irish-medium B.Ed. for primary teachers referred to by the Deputy, which is delivered by Marino Institute of Education. Funding is also provided for an M.Ed. in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Education, currently being delivered by Trinity College Dublin, and supports are provided for the Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (Irish-medium PME for post-primary teachers) in the University of Galway.
With regard to the Irish-medium B.Ed. in Marino Institute of Education, two cohorts – 68 students in total – have graduated from this programme since its establishment in 2019, and a third cohort – 38 students – are due to graduate in the coming months. An increased cohort of 56 students was taken in on an exceptional basis in 2023 as part of a comprehensive plan to support teacher supply. Due to the terms of the contract between my department and Marino Institute of Education, which was awarded through a competitive tendering process, this was the maximum increase in participants that could be taken in.
Work is currently underway in my department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. One of the key objectives of this policy will be to consider actions we can take to increase the supply of teachers with a high standard of Irish capable of teaching in Irish-medium settings. I intend to prioritise the publication of this policy in the coming months.
