Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
538. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige cén mhaoirseacht a dhéantar chun a chinntiú go mbíonn toradh dearfach ar an infheistíocht shuntasach a dhéanann an rialtas sna Tréimhsí Foghlama Gaeltachta d’ábhair oidí agus cén mhaoirseacht a dhéantar chun a chinntiú go gcuireann na tréimhsí sin le cumas teanga na n-ábhar oidí. [3776/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education, all Primary consecutive and concurrent programmes of initial teacher education, provide for an immersive educational programme through the medium of Irish in a Gaeltacht setting of a minimum four weeks duration. This is known as the Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht and may be accessed in two blocks, each of which shall be at least two weeks duration.
Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary ITE programmes, with effect from the 2020/2021 academic year. The grant was previously funded by my Department up to the 2012/2013 academic year, when it was ceased due to financial constraints.
The programmes follow Na Siollabais Oifigiúla do na Tréimhsí Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht do Mhic Léinn Oideachais. The Tréimhse Foghlama sa Ghaeltacht forms part of the overall programme of primary ITE. The Teaching Council, through its accreditation process, requires evidence from HEIs that programme content provides opportunities for student teachers to meaningfully integrate their experience from the Tréimshe into their learning in the HEI.
