Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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383. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to examine the possibility of learning support teachers (SET) who do not have Irish language qualifications to be able to work in schools where all their pupils are not learning Irish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33608/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this government.?It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).?

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided.

Special education teachers provide additional teaching supports to children attending mainstream classes with special educational needs. They do so using a wide variety of teaching approaches. This includes supporting children with special educational needs to access the curriculum, of which Irish is a subject. In addition, a number of special education teachers work in Gaelscoileanna across the country where Irish is the primary language used. Many children with special educational needs enrol in these schools and are taught through the medium of Irish.

Like all teachers, special education teachers register with the Teaching Council who are responsible for promoting the professional standards in teaching and set out the requirements for registration.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.