asked the Minister for Education the number of untrained teachers in primary schools giving (a) male and (b) female; what proportion of these teachers are (i) lay and (ii) religious; and whether his Department have any plans to reduce the number of untrained teachers in primary schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Untrained Teachers.
75.
Mr. O'Leary
On 1st May, 1965, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 1,660 female and 172 male untrained teachers in national schools. Of the total 1,191 were lay teachers and 641 were religious.
The recruitment of untrained teachers has been discontinued since 1958.
Accordingly the number of untrained teachers is being steadily decreased each year as those teachers on retirement are being replaced by trained teachers.
Many of the untrained religious are merely novices who normally do a few years teaching in an untrained capacity before entering a training college.
The question of making arrangements for the training of certain untrained teachers already in the service is at present under consideration by my Department.
Mr. O'Leary
In connection with the arrangements for the training of untrained teachers already in the service, is age a factor that will be taken into account?
It could be. The details of this have not been publicly announced yet, since the matter is still under consideration and negotiation, but age could be a factor.
Could the Minister say if, in regard to some of these teachers in course of training, there is a time lag between the first year and the second year training?
Is the Deputy referring to the form of training for untrained teachers in the service at present?
Yes.
I am not aware of any time lag. The Deputy may have something in mind of which I am not aware. As far as I understand, the answer is "No".