Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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436. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who will commence training to qualify as secondary school teachers in schools in September 2019; and the number who will continue training in schools in September 2019. [36194/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department is not in a position to provide the actual figures for enrolment in post-primary initial teacher education (ITE) programmes requested by the Deputy, at this time, as the CAO offers and acceptance process for September 2019 entrants has not yet concluded and the verified returns of students currently on other years of study are not yet confirmed.

The following are indicative figures provided to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) by the HEA-designated higher education institutions (HEIs) providing initial teacher education (ITE) programmes. It is important to note that these figures are based on estimates and projections provided to the HEA and are not based on actual enrolment data.  

The projected number of places available in Year 1 on undergraduate and postgraduate ITE (post-primary) programmes in State-funded higher education institutions as of September 2019 is circa 1,949 places.

It is projected that there will be in excess of 5,000 students enrolled across all post-primary ITE Programmes in State-funded HEIs in September 2019. 

These estimated figures include projected available places in priority subject areas arising from measures identified in the Teacher Supply Action Plan.