Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on separate religion-based entry for the primary teacher training course in Dublin City University (details supplied); if he will be renewing any exemptions to the Employment Equality Act 1998 or other equality legislation that currently apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25450/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The position is that Dublin City University (DCU) has two entry streams to its primary initial teacher education programmes. One is open to students from a Protestant background and one is open to all students. The provision of a route for students of a Protestant background continues the arrangements that have heretofore been in place for entry to the B Ed programme provided by the Church of Ireland College of Education (CICE).

In accordance with Department policy on the restructuring of initial teacher education, CICE and St Patrick's, Drumcondra, are scheduled to be incorporated into DCU on 1 October 2016. Two centres for denominational education are being created in DCU's Institute of Education, such that the University whilst maintaining its secular context, will facilitate and support the co-existence of different faith-based traditions.

CICE provides teachers for the Protestant primary school sector and the College has for many years restricted its annual B.Ed. intake (currently 32 students) to students from Protestant backgrounds. This is to ensure that there is available to schools under Protestant patronage a sufficient number of teachers who themselves come from a Protestant background and are trained in an institution with a Protestant ethos. The arrangement is provided for by order made by the Minister for Education and Skills, with the consent of the Minister for Justice and Equality, in accordance with Section 12 of the Employment Equality Act.

The current order applies to the academic years 2013/14 to 2017/18 inclusive. However, a new order will be required under Section 12, having regard to the incorporation of CICE into DCU. An application for this must be made to me and upon receipt, it would be my intention to make the order, with the consent of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. The order will help ensure the continued availability of teachers with a background in the Protestant faith and thereby protect the constitutional right to free expression of religion.