Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure the retention of a home economics teacher education at a campus (details supplied) in County Sligo and provide the college and NUI Galway with an opportunity to demonstrate their capacity to fulfil the vision of the Initial Teacher Education report in the most cost effective manner possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54539/12]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reassure staff, students and prospective students of a college (details supplied) in County Sligo of the future of home economics initial teacher education at the college with reference to the recommendation contained in the recent report from the Higher Education Authority to remove this service from the campus in County Sligo; if he appreciates their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54570/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 228 together.

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 was to identify possible new 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 there will be a smaller number of centres for ITE offering 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 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 consider the implementation plan from the HEA when received and a further announcement will be made at that stage.