Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I have a question for Dr. Connolly. Her mention of the difficulties in, and barriers to, getting people to become computer science teachers was interesting.

It was fascinating that, of the 140 people teaching, the vast majority do not have accreditation in the subject. According to another opening statement, 25% of post-primary mathematics teachers in Ireland do not have a mathematics qualification. Dr. Connolly observed there is a barrier which experienced graduates face with the two years which stops them being able to qualify. Looking at how we can remove those barriers, I was thinking about people who might have done a PhD and have teaching experience as a result of that. Would she consider someone who has a PhD and that experience having to do a two-year course a barrier? Could someone with that kind of a background do a shorter course to become a qualified teacher?