Written answers

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Third Level Education

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to tackle the emerging anomaly in relation to Gaeltacht fees being charged to third level students who are studying to become post-primary teachers while third-level students studying to become primary teachers are not required to pay such fees given that both sets of students must complete mandatory period of time in the Gaeltacht as part of the masters courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12509/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current requirements for the Gaeltacht Learning Period (GLP) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placement as outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education.

The Teaching Council Curricular Subject Requirements sets out the requirements for each of the approved curricular subjects in order to be eligible to register as a post primary teacher with the Council. For Gaeilge, these include a two month residential experience requirement. The registration requirements require graduates to be eligible to teach at least one curricular subject to the highest level within the post-primary schools curriculum.

The Gaeltacht Learning Period (GLP) is a compulsory element of all primary ITE programmes and one which must be meet by primary ITE graduates in order to register with the Teaching Council. The primary Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have developed an agreed syllabus for delivery by their Gaeltacht college providers, in order to comply with the current requirements for the GLP for primary ITE programmes as outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education.

Attendance at a programme of study in a Gaeltacht college is not a compulsory requirement for post-primary student teachers, unlike primary. As part of the current curricular subject requirements set by the Teaching Council for all post-primary languages (including Gaeilge), there is a residential experience requirement of a period of 2 months/8 weeks. Verifiable residential experience may be evidenced in a number of ways including:

- A copy of transcript of results which confirms residency in the country/area.

- A letter/statement from an employer/college/landlord in that country. For the subject ofIrish/Gaeilge, the letter should evidence residency in a Gaeltacht area.

- For the subject of Irish/Gaeilge, evidence of being a native of a Gaeltacht area may be submitted or a letter/statement from a Gaelcholaiste confirming that attendance at a Post Primary Gaelcholáiste to Leaving Certificate level.

In light of the emergency measures being adopted in relation to Covid -19, the Teaching Council has introduced changes in relation to the residential experience requirement for graduates of post-primary languages programmes of ITE in summer 2021. These changes include the reduction of the requirement to 6 weeks given the current restrictions on travel and also student teachers who have not fully met the 6-week requirement when applying for registration with the Council, will be granted registration with conditions.

Photo of Jackie CahillJackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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480. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason third-level students attending Gaeltacht courses as part of mandatory training for their professional masters of education are required to pay €650 per week for a course that has to take place online in 2021 due to Covid-19 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12510/21]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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495. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that students studying a master's in education with a college (details supplied) have been informed they have to pay €1,300 to complete a fully online Gaeltacht course undertaken at home in summer 2021; her views on whether this is a very high price given the course provider will not now have to incur the cost of food, lodgings and room rental generally associated with the Gaeltacht experience; her plans to deal with this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12770/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 495 together.

The current requirements for Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes takes the form of 2 x 2 week placements, which are outlined in the Teaching Council’s Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education.

A number of GLPs due to take place in 2020 were postponed due to public health restrictions. Also, due to the uncertainties of how GLPs would happen, any scheduled placements were put on hold for the 2020/2021 academic year.

The Department of Education has been working for some time with stakeholders, including the Teaching Council, the Higher Education Institutes (including the College referred to by the Deputy), the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and CONCOS (umbrella body for Gaeltacht Colleges), to develop contingency arrangements to allow for the completion of GLPs in the current academic year. An agreement has now been reached to proceed with the delivery of an online version of the course in 2021.

These contingency plans allow for all placements scheduled to take place this year, related to the 2020/21 academic year, along with those postponed from 2020. It will also ensure that any final year students have the opportunity to graduate as scheduled in summer 2021.

Budget 2020 provided for the re-instatement of the grant to cover the full cost of the Gaeltacht Learning Periods (GLPs) for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary ITE programmes, with effect from the 2020/2021 academic year. The grant was previously funded by the Department of Education up to the 2012/2013 academic year, when it was ceased due to financial constraints. The rate of the re-introduced student grant for 2021 has been set at an average of €650. This will cover the cost of the undertaking the fortnightly online course in 2021. The re-introduced grant will be made available for undergraduate and post-graduate students in State-funded primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes. This is in line with normal practice for other grant payments per students qualifying requirements.

In recent years, it is understood that students had paid an average of €750 for undertaking a fortnightly GLP in the Gaeltacht. This average cost has been in place for many years and included a contribution to cover accommodation costs associated with attending the course in the Gaeltacht. While the accommodation costs do not arise this year, it is acknowledged that Gaeltacht College providers do face a number of additional costs associated with the preparation, design and delivery of a new online programme. It should be noted that in normal circumstances, Gaeltacht householders who provide accommodation to trainee teachers attending recognised courses in Gaeltacht regions also qualify for a daily grant of €10 per night under the terms of Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilgewhich is administered by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

It is the shared aim of all of the stakeholders involved that students experience a quality online programme. HEIs are currently working directly with their Gaeltacht College providers on implementing the practical and administrative arrangements for delivery of the GLP.

An allowance has been made for 2ndyear Professional Masters in Education (PME) students (including students in the College referred to by the Deputy). Those 2ndyear PME students who have not completed any GLP will now complete a 3 week online programme (had previously been required to complete 4 weeks). 2ndyear PME students who have completed some of their required GLP will now be required to complete the remaining balance (up to a total requirement of 3 weeks) online. This particular allowance, approved by the Teaching Council’s Education Committee, recognised the significant timetabling issues facing 2ndyear PME students in respect of school placement, the GLP and normal course work.

The College referred to by the Deputy is an independent private provider of ITE programmes. In relation to the cost of the online programme for students in that College, the Department of Education has recently responded to a proposal from that College confirming that both the Department and the Teaching Council has no issue with that College, working in collaboration with a Gaeltacht College(s) to provide an online programme based on the agreed syllabus for their own students and to negotiate and set the cost for undertaking that programme for their own students.

The Department understands that the College referred to by the Deputy has now organised the provision of an online GLP programme for all of their students in collaboration with one Gaeltacht College.

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