Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide, in relation to the separate competition for Gaeltacht students to access places in the Colleges of Education for primary teachers, the names of the Colleges where there is a separate competition; the names of the Colleges, where there is not a separate competition; the number of places allocated to this separate competition in 2006; if these places were all taken up; if her attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by students regarding the fairness of the allocation of places at lower CAO points levels on the basis of Gaeltacht residency; her views on such concerns; if the College of Education B. Ed. degree entry requirement to have not less than a C grade in honours Leaving Certificate Gaeilge is sufficient as a recognition of the importance of the language for primary teachers, without having a separate Gaeltacht competition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19424/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Each of the five Colleges of Education operates its own competition for Gaeltacht students to access places on the Bachelor of Education for primary school teaching. The Colleges are as follows:

The Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin 6

Froebel College of Education, Sion Hill, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, Dublin 9

St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

There are approximately 100 places allocated to this competition each year. In academic year 2006/2007 43 of these places were offered. The following table gives a breakdown of the approved allocation and the number of places offered in each college.

Given the fewer numbers of Gaeltacht applicants, points required for admission as a Gaeltacht applicant may be lower than otherwise required. However it is important to note, that Gaeltacht applicants who secure places do not necessarily have lower points than other applicants. This special entry mode for persons from the Gaeltacht is in accordance with Government policy for the support and promotion of the Gaeltachtaí and the Irish language. Provision is made for up to ten per cent of the teacher training places in the Colleges of Education to be reserved for Gaeltacht applicants. To qualify as a Gaeltacht applicant, the person must be resident in an officially-designated Gaeltacht area and it must be confirmed that the normal language of the home is Irish.

All aspects of the entry requirements to Primary Teacher Training are kept under review by my Department in consultation with the Colleges of Education.