Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the need to further incentivise teaching through Irish; if additional grants or scholarships could be considered for any prospective teacher pursuing that career; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36978/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge the importance of increasing the supply of teachers with a high standard of Irish capable of teaching in Irish-medium setting. The Programme for Government (2025) also commits to increasing dedicated Irish-medium teacher training programmes.

With regards incentives for students to pursue careers in Irish-medium education, funding is currently provided by my department to COGG to provide bursaries to students pursuing post-graduate initial teacher education through the medium of Irish. These bursaries towards course fees, in the amount of €2,000 per year, are currently being provided to students on the Máistir Gairmiúil san Oideachas programme for post-primary teaching in the University of Galway. They will also be made available to students in the new Irish-medium Conair (pathway) on the PME programme for primary teaching in Marino Institute of Education, which is due to commence in September 2025. My department is also providing teachers on secondment to support the delivery of both of these programmes.

Additionally, students participating in the B.Oid. through the medium of Irish in Marino Institute of Education receive a grant of €1,000. Students from Gaeltacht areas registered on this course also receive a discount of €2,590 on on-campus accommodation.

My department is currently developing 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 expect to receive a draft of the policy in the coming months for my review. If I am satisfied with the draft received, it is intended that the policy will be published in autumn 2025.