Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the re-introduction of a subsidy in initial teacher training and education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37522/14]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the role of her Department in determining and assessing the quality and benefit of the Gaeltacht placement programme in view of the recommendations presented by the Gaeltacht placement working group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37589/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 183 together.

Changes to the structure and content of the Gaeltacht Placement arose from the Teaching Council's new accreditation criteria, published in June 2011 (Initial Teacher Education: Criteria and Guidelines for Programme Providers) which provide, inter alia, for "an extended and reconceptualised Gaeltacht residency which will now form part of the overall programme and be under the direct jurisdiction of the teacher education providers."

The Teaching Council established a Gaeltacht Placement Working Group and published a report in May 2012 which, among other things, provides for the placement duration to be extended to take place in two blocks of two weeks and a common course content across all initial teacher education providers. Initial teacher education providers have responsibility for quality assuring the content, teaching and assessment of the Gaeltacht element of initial teacher education programmes. My Department supports the changes as contributing to overall quality improvement in initial teacher education.

A decision was made to abolish payments by my Department towards the cost of attendance at Gaeltacht courses by initial teacher education students with effect from September 2012. In making difficult decisions such as this, priority was given to protecting resources for front line education services as far as possible in the coming years, which is especially challenging with rising numbers of school-going children. The changes to the gaeltacht placement grant were publicised in advance of implementation so that students would be aware of the new arrangements before embarking on Initial Teacher Education programmes.

I can appreciate that supporting a student through third level education can be challenging. However, I am not in a position to reinstate funding to this area.