Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the Teaching Council’s work to make it mandatory for all student teachers to undertake one mandatory school placement in a special education setting; to provide a timeline on when this will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38179/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education and Youth is committed to ensuring that student 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 March 2025 the Minister wrote to Teaching Council to initiate a process to move towards a mandatory assessed placement period in a special education needs setting for all student teachers, supported by appropriate modules. 

As part of this process, the Teaching Council, on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth, issued a survey across all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers.

The purpose of this survey is to capture evidence to help inform this understanding and support the development of a Guidance Note for Higher Education Institutions.  Work on the Guidance Note around an assessed student placement period in a SEN setting is well underway and due to be issued in Q3 2025, with a view to supporting initial change in September 2026. 

Additionally, the Teaching Council and my Department will host an event for HEI’s this Autumn which will showcase which will help highlight and disseminate the very best practice in this area.