Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is undertaking a comprehensive programme to support the supply of teachers. For example, to meet longer-term teacher demand, higher education institutions have developed new 4 year initial teacher education programmes in a number of post-primary priority subject areas, including Home Economics.

There are currently a number of providers of home economics Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) programmes.

ATU St Angela’s Sligo, a provider of a home economics ITE programme reverted from five to four years from 2021. Additionally, ATU St Angela’s Sligo, has substantially increased its Home Economics student numbers and also deliver a Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) programme. Other ITE providers for Home Economics include Mary Immaculate College Limerick (Thurles campus) and University of Galway, while University College Cork are due to start the provision of postgraduate programmes in Home Economics in September 2024.

The Munster Technological University (MTU) has developed the Professional Diploma in Home Economics (PDHE) to upskill already registered post primary teachers to meet the Teaching Council’s requirements for registration as a teacher of home economics.

The development and expansion of existing programmes in Home Economics will increase the number of teachers available. My Department continues to engage closely with HEIs to ensure that there will be an adequate number of Home Economic programmes to meet future demand in this subject area.