The information requested by the Deputy is as follows.
I share the Deputy's concern that primary schools in some areas have recently been experiencing some difficulties in securing the services of trained substitute teachers.
A pilot project for a supply panel of substitute teachers was introduced in 1993 to cover short-term teacher absences on sick leave. I propose to extend the project to include new locations as soon as resources permit.
I would also like to remind the Deputy that, since taking office, I increased substantially the number of entrants into colleges of education, to 429 in 1993, 460 in 1994 and 462 in 1995. This represents a dramatic improvement on the 1992 position, when only 275 students entered the colleges of education. Furthermore, in January 1995 I introduced a special 18-month post-graduate course for 180 students in the colleges of education. This will mean that a total of over 600 additional newly-qualified teachers will be available for employment in schools for the 1996-97 school year.
The initiatives outlined above, together with the projected reduction in overall pupil enrolments at primary level — from over 478,000 at present to approximately 444,000 in 1998-99 — will alleviate the difficulties in 1996-97 and will give rise to a surplus of teachers in subsequent years. I am satisfied, therefore, that the present difficulties are of a temporary nature only.