Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let us consider issue 5 on the agenda for the Council meeting of 26 November, namely, improving teacher quality and status at a time of scarce resources. The Minister has referred to our Presidency considering the importance of teacher evaluation. Will he give us more detail on what he plans on telling his counterparts in this regard? What is the up-to-date Irish position?

I presume that, when talking about teacher evaluation, the discussion will include the reform of the junior certificate and the consequent changes to teaching practices.

We had a very interesting meeting recently with the Special Needs Parents Association. The Minister has also engaged with it. An issue that arises time and again is the role of special needs assistants. Can we learn from the approach that applies in other European countries? What are we doing well and what are we not doing well?