Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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404. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address concerns expressed in correspondence by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13950/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Gaeltacht Learning Period which must be fulfilled by students who are currently in the second year of the primary Professional Master of Education and due to graduate in 2021.

Completion of the Gaeltacht placement is an important element of programmes of initial teacher education for primary teachers and therefore a requirement for registration with the Teaching Council.

As you may be aware, my Department and the Teaching Council issued a joint statement on 23 March 2020 advising that in light of the emergency measures being adopted in relation to Covid-19, students who are in the final year of their Initial Teacher Education programme will not be required to complete the usual Gaeltacht Learning Period in order to graduate in summer 2020.

In the case of student teachers in all other years of their ITE programme, the Gaeltacht requirement is being postponed, to be fulfilled at a later point in the programme. It will be a matter for each Higher Education Institution (HEI) to examine the available options in terms of rescheduling Gaeltacht placements for students. My Department will continue to liaise with the HEIs on this matter to ensure that clarity if provided for students.