Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 768: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if changes have been made to teacher training at primary or secondary level to enable teachers to better cope with students who are non-native speakers of English and their language and literacy needs. [27526/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The review of initial teacher education to be undertaken by the Teaching Council will be informed by the need for all teachers to be able to respond to the increasingly diverse backgrounds of our students. At present, all student teachers are given an awareness of inter-cultural issues including the challenges of teaching students whose first language is not English. When the review of teacher education programmes in all relevant 3rd level institutions is complete, the nature and extent of specific training provision for student-teachers in this area will be much clearer. The Council then, in line with its remit in this area will be in a position to recommend suitable programmes for student-teachers to enable them to cater for the needs of non-native school students.