Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his position on a recommendation within the recent Higher Education Authority report to remove home economics initial teacher education from a campus (details supplied) in County Sligo and to relocate to NUI Galway campus; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of education providers at the campus regarding this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48889/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have accepted the recommendations set out in a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the structures of initial teacher education. The purpose of the report, which I requested, was to identify new possible structures to improve initial teacher education in Ireland so that it is comparable with the best in the world. The international panel of education experts recommended that teacher education be provided in six "centres for teacher education". Currently there are 19 state funded providers of ITE (and three non-state funded) offering more than 40 college programmes in primary and post-primary teaching. The new collaborations recommended by the international panel will mean that a smaller number of centres for ITE exist, but that they offer education across multiple sectors from early childhood to primary, to post primary to adult education. These centres for teacher education will also possess a critical mass in terms of research capacity which is not always possible in smaller institutions. The new configurations will mean strong research bases can be created in each centre.

The HEA has been requested to consult with the relevant parties and to prepare a detailed plan on how to implement the recommendations of the Panel. I understand that this process has started and a plan is expected by the end of the year. I will fully consider the implementation plan from the HEA when received.