John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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377. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is still a commitment to develop a mechanism to allow certain qualified post-primary teachers to register as mathematics teachers following the completion of a course of studies; when these courses will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31722/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Management bodies and schools have, in recent years, reported difficulties in recruiting teachers. At primary level this relates mainly to the recruitment of substitute teachers and at post-primary level to the recruitment of teachers of particular subjects (STEM, modern foreign languages, Irish and Home Economics, in particular) as well as substitutes.

The Steering Group on Teacher Supply, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was established in response to these issues. The Steering Group is overseeing the implementation of the Teacher Supply Action Plan, which was launched in November 2018.

Following from the Action Plan, the HEA issued a call to initial teacher education (ITE) providers for proposals for flexible programmes to upskill registered post primary teachers in 3 subjects: mathematics, physics and Spanish. The HEA’s call was made on behalf of the Department and was open to providers of ITE programmes accredited by the Teaching Council.

The upskilling programmes will offer teachers a route to upskill to meet the Teaching Council’s curricular subject requirements. They will be open to already registered post-primary teachers and will be offered on a part-time, flexible basis. Participating teachers will not have to pay fees.

The Department is currently finalising arrangements with the programme providers, on delivery of these upskilling programmes, and I hope to make an announcement in this regard in the near future.