Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the initiatives which are being taken by him to ensure pre-service and in-service training for teachers who are or who may be employed to teach second level subjects through the medium of Gaeilge. [19539/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a number of actions relating to improving the quality of Irish teaching. Amongst these are initiatives at both pre service and in service level including the introduction of a new Post Graduate Diploma in Education for teaching at post primary level delivered in full through the medium of Irish and a new post graduate programme for a Diploma in Irish Language Education (Primary Teaching) which will provide specialised skills in Irish to those who have already completed a teacher education programme. The Strategy also envisages the provision of short-cycle and on-line professional development for serving teachers.

A working group has recently been established, under the auspices of the Department of Community, Equality and the Gaeltacht, to scope out and agree the steps required to implement the strategy over the 20 year period. Implementation will also have to take account of the availability of resources. This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and will deliver on the achievable goals and targets proposed.

In relation to the current provision of professional development, it is policy to provide services through the medium of Irish to teachers in Irish-medium schools. Every effort is made by the teacher support services including the PDST, Project Maths to provide a high quality service to those teachers within the resources provided. An tSeirbhís Tacaíochta Dara Leibhéal don Ghaeilge is a full time team dedicated to providing support to teachers of Irish in all post primary schools. Other supports include summer courses and online resources, as well as a wide range of supports provided by the Professional Development Service for Teachers.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he provides in-service training for second level teachers specific to content language integrated learning which will support teachers in the Irish medium sector. [19540/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The generally accepted definition of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) refers to the teaching of a curricular subject through the medium of a language other than that normally used for instruction. As Irish is the language of instruction for all subjects in Irish-medium schools, teaching through a language which may not be the normal language of communication of the student is a permanent feature of the teaching approach in these schools.

While there is a wide range of supports available for teachers in the Irish medium sector, the post-primary teacher support services do not currently provide specific CLIL in-service training. An tSeirbhís Tacaíochta don Dara Leibheáil (STDL) don Gaeilge is primarily engaged in an intensive phase of support related to assessment changes, however, it also offers support which is specific to the needs of Irish-medium schools and into which elements of CLIL are incorporated. An Chomhairle Um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) has also been very active in recent years in commissioning materials in the Irish language to support the teaching of subjects in second-level schools. Such textbooks and ancillary resources are integral to the CLIL approach. In addition, in 2010 my Department supported a National University of Ireland, Galway conference on CLIL which was aimed at looking at new methods for teaching Irish, and for teaching subjects through Irish. The conference was open to both primary and post-primary teachers.

The 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 contains a number of actions relating to improving the quality of Irish teaching. Amongst these is a recommendation that from as early as possible in Phase II, it is proposed to move towards a situation, beginning in the infant classes in the primary sector, where partial Irish language immersion will be offered to all children.

A working group has recently been established, under the auspices of the Department of Community, Equality and the Gaeltacht, to scope out and agree the steps required to implement the strategy over the 20 year period. Implementation will also have to take account of the availability of resources. This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and will deliver on the achievable goals and targets proposed.