Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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937. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the ratification process by the Teaching Council for new initial teacher education programmes developed within technological universities; if she is aware of any delays or barriers affecting programme validation; the steps being taken to ensure timely recognition of these courses to support the teaching workforce pipeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19869/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education (ITE) programmes must be accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes.

The professional accreditation standards for ITE were reviewed by the Teaching Council, taking account of the recommendations of Sahlberg II report (Structure of Teacher Education in Ireland: Review of Progress in Implementing Reform) and updated standards were published in 2020: Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education (Céim).

The Procedures for the Professional Accreditation of Programmes of ITE (2021) outlines the processes and procedures by which the Teaching Council exercises its role in reviewing and accrediting programmes of ITE.

The Sahlberg II report, in its general recommendations, states that “Ireland should have seven centres of excellence in ITE” and outlines “that in all seven centres, the key strategic focus should be on creating a coherent range of ITE provision from early childhood education to adult and higher education teacher preparation. This should take place by further strengthening research-based approaches to teacher education, quality of pedagogy and instruction throughout various programmes, building coherent linkages between theory and practice and broadening internationalisation of ITE, including both students and academic staff.”

The seven centres of excellence, as recommended in the Sahlberg II report are as follows:

• DCU Institute of Education, comprising of Dublin City University, St. Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Mater Dei Institute of Education and the Church of Ireland College of Education.
• Maynooth University comprising of Maynooth University and the Froebel College.
• A centre comprising University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College of Education and the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest.
• A centre comprising University College Cork and Munster Technological University.
• A centre comprising University of Galway and Atlantic Technological University, which for the purposes of initial teacher education, is led by University of Galway
• A centre comprising Trinity College Dublin and Marino Institute of Education.
• A centre comprising University College Dublin and the National College of Art and Design.

The Department of Education favours new programmes being introduced in areas where there is an identified national need. In this regard, it would be expected that there would be a liaison with the Department by higher education institutions, the Teaching Council and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when considering new programme proposals.