Press release
Minister Foley announces 610 additional places on primary initial teacher education (ITE) programmes over 2023 and 2024
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Education Norma Foley announces the approval of 610 additional places on primary initial teacher education (ITE) programmes over two years.
Following engagement with the relevant higher education institutions providing initial teacher education, the Minister has approved 610 additional places with 320 of these coming on stream in 2023, and the remaining 290 in 2024.
The new places are as follows:
Minister Foley said:
“Primary school teaching remains a very popular career option, both for students leaving school, and people turning to teaching mid-career. Over successive Budgets we have been successful in increasing the number of teaching posts available in our schools, bringing the pupil: teacher ratio down to its lowest ever level, growing the number of DEIS schools and increasing the number of home school liaison and special education posts. All of this, combined with the growth in student numbers in recent months have contributed to a high demand for primary school teachers.
“I wish to acknowledge the higher education institutions’ commitment to this increased number of students on the Primary B.Ed., B.Oid. and Primary PME programmes.
“This significant increase is only possible with their co-operation. I would like to thank them for engaging openly and constructively with the department on this matter and for their continuing co-operation and collaboration.
“This is in addition to a number of measures taken and underway which are intended to address current challenges in the area of teacher supply in primary and post-primary schools. I and my department continue to work collaboratively with the education partners to ensure teacher supply.”
Recent policy advances, for example, the extension of DEIS status to 322 additional schools from September 2023, increased provision for students with special educational needs, and the positive changes in the staffing schedule which bring the pupil: teacher ratio in schools to a historic low, along with the enrolment of over 9,300 Ukrainian pupils (with potential for further enrolments) have impacted on teacher demands, and ongoing pressures relating to the availability of substitute teachers.
With these combined factors, it is anticipated that demand for primary teachers over the next number of years will exceed previous expectations.
Each year, the number of students admitted to primary concurrent and consecutive programmes in State-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) is determined by the Department of Education, having regard to teacher supply and demand issues, and available resources.
The primary concurrent and consecutive programmes are available in the following State-funded HEIs:
The total number of primary initial teacher education places at each HEI for the academic years 23/24 and 24/25 are as follows.
| Higher Education Institution | Approved Places B.Ed. | Approved places B.Oid. | Approved Places PME |
| Dublin City University | 432 | - | 120 |
| Marino Institute of Education | 133 | 60* | 100 |
| Mary Immaculate College | 435 | - | 120 |
| Maynooth University | 90 | - | 60 |
| Total | 1,090 | 60* | 400 |
*B.Oid. places will be increased to 60 for the 2023/24 academic year only.