John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current qualification requirements for learning support (SET) teachers in Ireland, specifically, the need for candidates to hold qualifications in Irish when the majority of children availing of SET are exempt from Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31481/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Teaching Council register teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016 (www.teachingcouncil.ie). As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The qualification requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the Regulations.

Central to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) policy in Ireland is that all teachers teaching children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) should be qualified Primary or Post-primary teachers in the first instance.

All programmes of ITE in Ireland that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council. The standards for programmes of ITE, which were revised in 2020, are published in Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education (2020) (www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2023/08/ceim-standards-for-initial-teacher-education.pdf). The standards set Inclusive Education as one of the seven core elements which must unpin all aspects of the programme of ITE.

Once qualified as a Primary or Post-primary teachers, they may then apply for professional development in the area of SEN, if desired.

In relation to the requirement for SET teachers to hold qualifications in Irish, my Department sets the minimum entry requirements for Irish, English and Mathematics for entry to primary ITE programmes. This is to ensure that primary teachers have the capacity to lead learning in these subjects which are considered as core curricular areas and particularly important in terms of supporting the development of literacy and numeracy amongst students in schools. As the first official language in Ireland, and for fundamental cultural and historical reasons which are inextricably linked to Irish identity, the study of the Irish language is a key aspect of the learning experiences that are considered appropriate for students in recognised schools in Ireland.

For these reasons, Irish is a core subject in the curriculum determined by the Minister for recognised Irish schools. The Department-established primary curriculum includes Irish as a core component and as such it is necessary to have a certain standard of Irish.

The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 (www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/30) provides that people with special educational needs are educated in an inclusive environment, as far as possible and have the same right to access and benefit from education as children who don’t have these needs.

In all educational settings, including SEN settings, schools are expected and encouraged to provide all students, to the greatest extent possible and in a meaningful way, with opportunities to participate in Irish language and cultural activities at a level appropriate to their learning needs.?

My Department is committed to ensuring that all teachers, at primary and post-primary level, have the skills they need to support the diverse needs of all our children and young people in our schools. It is critical that our teachers are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to continue to deliver high quality and inclusive education.