John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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401. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether her Department has considered the introduction of a post-graduate qualification in primary school teaching at University College Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37285/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Each year, the number of students admitted to primary Bachelor of Education and Professional Master of Education (PME) programmes in State-funded Higher Education Institutes (HEI) is determined by my Department, having regard to teacher supply and demand issues, and available resources, noting that additional places have a direct cost implication for the Department.

Under Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all initial teacher education programmes must be accredited by the Teaching Council for registration purposes. However, given my role in approval of numbers at primary and the funding implications of same (funding for Gaeltacht learning period in State-funded providers), the Council refer any HEI planning new primary provision to the Department for discussion.

Currently there are four providers of primary PME programmes which are:

Dublin City University

Marino Institute of Education

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

Maynooth University (Froebel)

We cannot confirm any new courses that might be accredited in the future, but any additional primary programmes would be made public and notified to the HEI in question in a timely manner.