AQW 5871/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 08/02/2024
Answered On Date: 20/02/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education what action he is taking to address the lack of Irish Medium teachers currently teaching in Irish Medium schools.

Answer:

I am aware of concerns about teacher supply in the Irish-medium sector. In relation to Initial Teacher Education, my Department has protected the number of places available for student teachers training to teach in Irish-medium schools. Through A Fair Start funding, work is ongoing with Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) in the first instance - as the Departmental ALB funded to encourage and promote Irish-medium education – to consider what practical steps may support the recruitment and retention of teachers for Irish-medium schools.

My Department has also made funding available through A Fair Start to support CnaG in taking forward work to promote careers in Irish-medium education to post-primary pupils.

Post-primary schools in all sectors are facing challenges for subject specialist teachers in particular areas of learning. My Department is working alongside CnaG and the Irish-medium post-primary schools to support a pilot mentorship programme for non-subject specialists. There is no single solution to teacher supply in any sector, but my Department will continue to work with the Irish-medium sector in identifying and considering solutions to the concerns raised.