Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions taken to establish a body within his Department working with education partners tasked with co-ordinating policy matters concerning teacher supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43290/18]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of times the teacher supply steering group has met since it was established; the decisions made by the group; if it plans to publish reports; and if so, the nature of the report and estimated date of publication. [43414/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 272 together.

The Steering Group on Teacher Supply was established in March 2018. The Steering Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills and it includes nominees of the Department, HEIs providing primary and post primary initial teacher education, the Teaching Council, the HEA, primary and post primary school management bodies, as well as an independent expert. The Steering Group has met on four occasions, most recently on September 10^th.

The Group is considering the issues that impact on teacher supply, including: initial teacher education policy, provision, funding and support; data-research requirements; policies and arrangements for schools and teachers that impact on teacher mobility-supply; and promotion of the teaching profession. In undertaking its task, the Group is cognisant of the requirement that all persons wishing to teach in recognised schools must meet the professional registration standards and criteria set by the Teaching Council, which is the professional regulatory body for the teaching profession.

I am in the process of meeting officials across my Department and intend to meet shortly with the officials with responsibility in this area to review developments to date and plans for next steps.