Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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596. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the advice that has been given to his Department from the Teaching Council on the leaving certificate grades required for entry into initial teacher education programmes. [28584/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Teaching Council was asked to provide advice to my Department on a number of matters relating to entry to initial teacher education (ITE), including the minimum leaving certificate grades required for entry to primary ITE programmes.

The Council engaged in a consultation process with stakeholders. Many of the issues identified were complex and the ESRI was subsequently commissioned by the Council to carry research to inform its deliberations. The ESRI report was published in November 2016.

The Council has submitted its advice, which is currently being considered by my Department. The Action Plan for Education for 2017 contains a commitment to publish revised entry requirements for initial teacher education, which I intend doing shortly, having regard, inter alia, to the advice of the Council.