Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure greater opportunities and courses are provided to train teachers to teach through the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13210/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department considers it important that there is an adequate supply of suitably qualified teachers including teachers qualified to teach through Irish available to meet the needs of primary and post primary schools. Accordingly, my Department asked the Teaching Council to consider the matter of teacher supply and the Council set up a Technical Working Group (TWG) to formulate advice on the matter.

The TWG's Report sets out an approach to planning which scopes out the work necessary to develop a model for teacher supply in the medium to long term. It recognises that the implementation of its recommendations will have significant resource implications, including staffing, and I will not be in a position to progress this aspect in the current year. The Action Plan for Education for 2017 includes commitments to progress the recommendations this year.

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.  The Policy on Gaeltacht Education includes September 2018 as the anticipated start date for the provision of new ITE programmes through the medium of Irish. This will be subject to interest levels from ITE providers at third level, potential student uptake, and agreement from relevant parties.