Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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1037. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have utilised funding from her Department to enrol teachers in upskilling courses in high-demand subject areas. [20821/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a priority area of action for the Government.

A Steering Group on Teacher Supply was established in my Department in 2018. The Steering Group is leading on the identification of issues, the development of a programme of actions on teacher supply and the oversight of its implementation.

The Teacher Supply Action Plan, published in November 2018, contains a range of actions including the development of programmes to upskill existing teachers in targeted subject areas. Upskilling programmes are provided over two years on a part-time basis and are available for registered teachers to upskill in subjects where teacher supply is constricted. These programmes are free of cost to participants.

My Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) issued a funding call in 2019 to initial teacher education (ITE) providers for upskilling programmes in mathematics, physics and Spanish. Following the successful completion of the funding call, these programmes commenced in January 2021.

Budget 2024 included the expansion of upskilling programmes, free to teachers, aimed at increasing the number of qualified teachers in high-demand subjects and reducing out-of-field teaching. Budget 2025 continued funding for free upskilling courses for teachers in high-demand subject areas (Irish, French, Spanish, maths, computer science, physics, politics & society).

New programmes in Irish, French, politics & society, and computer science, due to commence in 2025, will complement existing programmes in maths, physics, and Spanish. Trinity College Dublin will deliver the new Irish upskilling programme for post-primary. This part-time programme, began in January this year, will also be free of cost to participants and will be provided in a flexible and innovation manner to enable broad participation, accommodating teachers in both full and part-time roles, as well as those situated across the State.

Over 980 post-primary teachers are currently undertaking or have completed upskilling programmes in current programmes in mathematics, physics, Spanish and Irish.

I am considering further measures to strengthen the teaching workforce and ensure that schools have the support needed to provide an excellent education for every student.