Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
152. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures she is taking to increase the number of people from working class backgrounds, especially those who have attended DEIS schools, into the teaching profession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70749/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring that the teaching profession is sustainable and attractive is an important objective. Challenges in relation to the diversity of the teaching profession have long been recognised, and the programme for government commits to increase diversity within the teaching profession.
My Department, with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (D/FHERIS) and the National Tertiary Office, intend to launch a new tertiary pathway for primary teaching in February 2026, with an initial intake of students in September 2026.
Tertiary programmes, first launched in July 2023, are a new kind of educational provision which allows a student to begin a degree course in further education, before transitioning on to complete their degree in a higher education setting. They are a key part of D/FHERIS's efforts to create diverse and progressive pathways in the third level system.
The tertiary pathway for primary teaching includes a one-year foundation course delivered by certain Education and Training Boards, aimed at widening access for candidates facing barriers such as socioeconomic disadvantage.
Successful completion guarantees entry to an accredited primary teacher education programme. Graduates will complete a “1+4” structure, ensuring readiness to qualify as primary teachers.
The objective of this programme is to provide an initial teacher education (ITE) programme that continues to meet the requirements for registration, while enabling those who have the capacity to become a primary teacher to overcome the barriers to entry that currently exist. Additionally, my Department is also considering the possibility of developing a tertiary pathway in post-primary teaching.
My Department frequently consults and engages closely with stakeholders on issues such as the diversity of the teaching profession through industrial relations forums, sectoral meetings, and direct discussions with teacher unions.
I am considering further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.
