Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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740. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of attendees recorded by the teacher education section at continuing postponed Department seminars for post-primary teachers, including detailed whole-day workshops and evening seminars, in tabular form. [46449/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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It is assumed that the Deputy's question refers to attendance at all continuing professional development (CPD) events.

Teachers at primary and post primary level can access a range of CPD through the teacher support services funded by my Department. Attached is a table detailing the number of CPD places provided through this mechanism for the period 2008-2014

In addition to this provision there are other publicly funded CPD options for teachers including local courses provided by the network of education centres, support offered by subject associations and teacher networks, support for further studies through the Refund of Fees Scheme and CPD offered through organisations supported by my Department such as COGG, NAPD, IPPN.

There are also a range of CPD options which teachers can access which are provided privately.

A CPD unit is defined as an interaction between a teacher support service and teachers. A CPD Unit ranges from a 2 hour session in a local education centre to a suite of sessions on a particular issue or, in the case of college based events, a full post graduate course. The actual number of teachers attending CPD Units is not recorded.