Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Gaeltacht component of primary teacher training will go ahead as normal in January 2022 under current guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61316/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Teaching Council Standards for initial teacher education (ITE) at primary, all student teachers must complete a 4 week Gaeltacht learning period (2x 2 weeks) as part of their programme. This is compulsory in order to graduate.

The Department is aware that there are students who are due to go on their Gaeltacht learning period in January 2022. Discussions have been taking place between the relevant Higher Education Institution, the Department of Education and the Teaching Council on how best to progress this, in the current circumstances, and all parties are striving to bring the matter to a conclusion as soon as possible.