Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the terms and conditions announced in budget 2020 for teachers to improve their standard of spoken and written Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49459/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring in particular to the restoration of the Gaeltacht placement grant for students on State-funded Initial Teacher Education Programmes.

The Gaeltacht placement is crucially important as an immersive Irish language experience for student teachers, to improve their communicative competence in Gaeilge, in the context of their future role as teachers of Irish and other subjects through Irish. It also enhances their understanding of life and culture in the Gaeltacht and the reality of life in bilingual communities.

I was very pleased therefore that Budget 2020 includes a commitment to restore the Gaeltacht grant for students in State-funded primary initial teacher education programmes. The measure will take effect from the academic year 2020/2021.