Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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390. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, given that Marino Institute of Education is a third-level higher education institute and not-for-profit charity funded directly by her Department, consideration will be given to extending the eligibility of free frees to students in the BSc in Early Childhood and BSc in Education Studies course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33705/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Free Fees Initiative is an administrative scheme of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science with all approved courses, with the exception of Marino Institute of Education primary initial teacher education programmes, funded through the Higher Education Authority.

My Department directly provides capitation, free fees and literacy & numeracy funding to Marino Institute of Education for approved numbers on the approved primary initial teacher education programmes. This funding is provided as part of a specific arrangements in relation to these courses only and funding does not extend to courses outside the agreement.

As a private institution, it is open to Marino Institute of Education to offer additional courses outside those approved for funding under the primary initial teacher education programmes. The establishment of such courses does not give rise to the provision of funding by my Department.

I understand that the extension of free fees funding to additional courses in private institutions would be a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, the HEA or other Government Departments/Agencies that have identified a specific teaching and learning need. In this regard decisions regarding eligibility of free fees to students in the BSc in Early Childhood and BSc in Education Studies are not a matter for my Department.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, given that core funding for Marino Institute of Education has remained stagnant in 2005, she will review the core funding settlement for the institute with a view to index linking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33706/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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A memorandum of understanding sets out the funding and administrative arrangements between Marino Institute of Education and my Department.

My Department funds Marino for the delivery of primary ITE programmes through capitation and free fees grants, and there has been an increase in funding since 2024 as outlined below:

• A capitation grant rate is payable for all approved intake on the primary B.Ed (General Stream) plus primary PME programme in Marino. This rate increased in 2024 from €7,193 to €7,693 (per annum).
• A capitation grant rate of €6,793 (per annum) is payable for approved intake to the primary B. Oid (through medium of Irish) for students who entered the programme from 2024. The previous rate for students already enrolled in the programme was €6,332.
• A Free Fees grant of €2,564 (per annum) is payable for an approved intake of students on the B.Ed and B.Oid programme only.

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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392. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in light to the popularity of Irish-medium education, she has any plans to increase the number of places offered on the course at Marino Institute of Education given the shortage of teachers applying for positions in Gaeltacht schools and Gaelscoileanna; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33707/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government includes a commitment to increase dedicated Irish-medium teacher training programmes, and I am delighted that progress has already been made in this area. Marino Institute of Education have recently announced the establishment of an Irish-medium pathway in their PME (primary teaching) programme. Supports for the pathway are being provided by my department and by COGG.

A number of teacher education actions are currently funded by my department under the Policy on Gaeltacht Education to increase the supply of teachers available to teach effectively through the medium of Irish. This includes funding for the Irish-medium B.Ed. for primary teachers referred to by the Deputy, which is delivered by Marino Institute of Education. Funding is also provided for an M.Ed. in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Education, currently being delivered by Trinity College Dublin, and supports are provided for the Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas (Irish-medium PME for post-primary teachers) in the University of Galway.

With regard to the Irish-medium B.Ed. in Marino Institute of Education, two cohorts – 68 students in total – have graduated from this programme since its establishment in 2019, and a third cohort – 38 students – are due to graduate in the coming months. An increased cohort of 56 students was taken in on an exceptional basis in 2023 as part of a comprehensive plan to support teacher supply. Due to the terms of the contract between my department and Marino Institute of Education, which was awarded through a competitive tendering process, this was the maximum increase in participants that could be taken in.

Work is currently underway in my department on the development of a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht. One of the key objectives of this policy will be to consider actions we can take to increase the supply of teachers with a high standard of Irish capable of teaching in Irish-medium settings. I intend to prioritise the publication of this policy in the coming months.