College Principal, Professor Peter Finn, said:

"I welcome the decision of the Minister of Education, Mr John O'Dowd MLA, to retain intakes to initial teacher education courses at current levels for the next two academic years.  By this action the Minister has introduced an element of much needed stability into the sector.

Further to the decision on levels of intake, the Department has asked us to redouble our efforts to increase recruitment to our post-primary Mathematics/Science pathway.  We will do that with greater confidence now that we know the numbers for a two-year period.  There is a very strong commitment at St Mary's to support STEM in school education through our teacher education provision and significant school partnership projects."