Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements

 

4:25 pm

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will ask the Minister of State to respond on the apprenticeship matter. I will take up the issue the Deputy raised regarding Irish Sign Language. As she suggested, the Teaching Council is obviously independent of me and Government. I will, however, get a view from my officials regarding the course in Trinity College Dublin and revert to the Deputy with some suggestions as to how we might be able to raise that. She makes a very fair point.

On the social care work issue, as I believe I outlined in my letter to the Deputy, I have asked Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, to engage with all regulators. CORU is the regulator in this area and it is not for me to direct it. We are asking all our regulators to show flexibility considering we are in a global pandemic. We are not asking them to lower professional standards but to try to come up with other ways.

We have had good progress with some professions and regulators, as well as some ongoing work with others. The Deputy's point about the CAO and teaching is interesting, a point which struck me as well. To reassure the Deputy, there will still be many more people applying for teaching than there are places. I do not think it will result in or contribute to a shortage of teachers. My Department is undertaking work with all the institutions and across the Government to see what more we can do to provide additional places and placements for this year's leaving certificate cohort. I am due to update the Government on that next month. I will keep the Deputy informed on that.

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