Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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There is a mandatory inclusion module that all teachers do before they are qualified to teach. The NCSE has said that only experienced teachers should teach in special classes and special schools for obvious reasons. There are many postgraduate training programmes, including diploma programmes and graduate certificates as well as professional development supports and teaching professional learning. There is significant investment going into training at present. When I first came into the role, which was newly created, one of the biggest issues I heard about from teachers and the larger school community was that training was really needed. Significant investment and efforts have gone in to making sure we have sufficient training in place. In Sligo we have 24 special classes and two special schools. In Leitrim we have 19 special classes at present.