I propose to take Questions Nos. 1226, 1228 and 1232 together.
The Department of Education and Youth promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of quality teacher training programmes, professional learning experiences (PLE) and support for principals and teachers.
The Department ensures that a range of high-quality models of teacher professional learning (TPL) is provided to teachers and school leaders through Oide, the national network of Education Support Centres and appropriate groups, bodies and institutions who are empowered to design, develop and deliver TPL programmes, and also to ensure that valuable teacher student contact time is protected.
The Department’s teacher professional development service, Oide, provides professional learning through a number of delivery methods, including in school support, online, blended and face to face, communities of practice for teachers and school cluster days.
A range of options are available to teachers in regard to training opportunities in special education. These are provided within initial teacher education (ITE) programmes for student teachers and TPL programmes for established teachers. The programmes provided include flexible on-line opportunities right through to funding for post-graduate programmes for special education teachers.
In addition, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) offer full school support to all staff and provide support for teachers with training needs in special education, through the NCSE support service which manages, co-ordinates and develops a range of supports in response to identified teacher training need. The NCSE has also secured the services of Middletown Centre for Autism to deliver support to school staff in special classes for students with autism.
A host of skills and teaching approaches are required every day by teachers in their classrooms. The NCSE support service is vital in this regard to ensuring teachers have the training needed to support all students to ensure no matter where a child is enrolled, they are supported and provided the opportunity to reach their full potential. It is open to any school who feels it has a training need to contact the NCSE and arrange training.
In 2025, my colleague, Minister McEntee, requested the Teaching Council to make it mandatory for all student teachers to undertake one mandatory school placement in a special education setting. This is a key development and should help to ensure newly qualified teachers have the necessary skills and experience to support students with additional needs.
Budget 2026 has provided funding to support the training in the area of special educational needs and my department and the NCSE are committed to looking at further options to enhance training and supports for teachers and SNAs.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
