Vol. 465 No. 3
34 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the arrangements, if any, she intends to put in place to ensure that all primary schools have access to trained and qualified substitute teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9581/96]
Since I took office, I have increased substantially the number of entrants into the colleges of education each year. Furthermore, in January 1995, I introduced a special 18 months course for graduates for 180 students in the colleges of education. All this will mean that a total of over 600 newly qualified teachers will be available for employment in schools this September, 335 more than last year. The Deputy will no doubt be aware that I announced on last Tuesday that I intend to further significantly increase the intake to the colleges of education in September 1996, and that I will be introducing a new post-graduate course for training of primary teachers, commencing this year.
In addition, I announced last week that the existing supply panel scheme will be extended in September 1996 by assigning a further 20 posts to the scheme. This will increase the size of the panel to 50 posts. It is widely acknowledged that the supply panel scheme, which I initiated in September 1993, is of immense value in assisting boards of management to recruit qualified replacement teachers to cover for colleagues on absences of short duration.
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 a decrease of more than 34,000 — will ease the difficulties in September and will create a better balance between the supply and demand for teachers in subsequent years. I am satisfied, therefore, that the present difficulties are of a temporary nature only.
