Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 203 of 18 June 2009 if he will reconsider the leaving certificate Irish language requirements for science graduates who wish to pursue a career in teaching; the future role of the sciences in developing the knowledge economy; if he will reconsider this requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28126/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined to the Deputy in June, there is a set of common criteria for entry to courses leading to qualification as a primary teacher, which includes certain Leaving Certificate requirements. Applicants for the approved Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) and the Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education must have the following academic qualifications: (a) an honours Bachelor degree - level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification at level 9 or 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications, and (b) the following second level qualifications (or approved equivalents): (i) in the Leaving Certificate Examination from 1969 onwards: a grade C3 or above in Higher Level Irish; a grade D3 or above in Mathematics (Ordinary or Higher level); and a grade C3 or above in English (Ordinary level) or grade D3 or above in English (Higher level); (ii) in the Leaving Certificate Examination prior to 1969, Honours in Irish and passes in English and Mathematics.

A post primary teacher in Ireland must hold a suitable degree and a suitable teacher education qualification. Details of the qualifications needed to be eligible for appointment to an incremental salaried teaching position in a voluntary secondary school, other than in a probationary capacity, are available on the Teaching Council website: www.teachingcouncil.ie. Irish is not an essential requirement for teaching other subjects, such as science, in a post primary school.

I am glad to have graduates entering teacher education from a range of disciplines and backgrounds, including the sciences. However, it is necessary to maintain teaching standards at a high level and so it is considered important that applicants have a good Leaving Certificate generally.

With regard to teachers in the primary sector, it is essential that they have a high standard of Irish on entry to teacher education programmes. It is a particular feature of Irish primary education that children, from the beginning of schooling, have an experience of language learning in two subjects, Irish and English. In addition the use of Irish is integrated throughout the primary curriculum where possible and Irish is used as a natural means of communication in the daily life of the class and the school. For these reasons, there are no plans to reduce the Irish language requirement for entry to teacher education programmes.

In the context of Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, the Teaching Council has begun work on the development of its strategy for the review and accreditation of initial teacher education including the knowledge, skills and competences required of teachers in today's profession. Consultation fora have taken place and the Council hopes to commence reviews on a pilot basis in late 2009.

I have asked the Council to advise me on policy in this regard, in particular in relation to Irish, and the need for teachers to have full competence to teach the Irish curriculum. I look forward to the Council's recommendations in this important area.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are seen as the drivers of growth and innovation in the knowledge society. Ireland's continued competitiveness depends strongly on increasing the numbers of students studying the physical sciences at senior cycle, and on enhancing the attractiveness of mathematics, science, technology and engineering options so that students will choose these as third level options and as career opportunities.