Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures his Department plans to take to increase the supply of teachers who can teach through the medium of Irish; his plans to establish a teacher training programme through the medium of Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6472/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department considers it important that the supply of teachers with the required qualifications should meet demand at both primary and post primary levels, including teachers qualified to teach through Irish. Accordingly, my Department asked the Teaching Council to consider the matter of teacher supply with a view to developing better forecasting methods to ensure an adequate supply of teachers with the necessary qualifications. The Council has provided its advice and report and the Department is currently considering the report’s recommendations with a view to implementation where appropriate.

The Deputy will be aware of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022, which contains a number of actions relating to improving the supply and quality of teaching through the medium of Irish at primary and post-primary level. These actions include the provision of a new Irish-medium initial teacher education (ITE) programme for primary teachers that addresses the needs of teachers in the Irish-medium sector and strengthening the supply of teachers from the existing post-primary ITE provider.

The actions in the Policy on Gaeltacht Education will be implemented on a phased basis commencing in 2017, as set out in the recently launched Action Plan for Education 2017. In accordance with the Action Plan. my Department intends commencing drafting of a tendering process for expanded ITE provision by the end of’ this year.