Vol. 490 No. 5
321 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of substitute teachers employed on a regular basis in national schools; the proposals, if any, he has to give them greater recognition within the teaching service; whether he will provide in-career development opportunities for them to further their formal qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10736/98]
Approximately 900 substitute teachers are required to work in primary schools annually. The majority of these teachers are fully trained and therefore do not require further training. A proportion of substitute teaching service is given by personnel who are not recognised as fully trained primary teachers. Many of these persons hold third level qualifications. Post-graduate training courses to enable degree-holders qualify as primary teachers are provided from time to time by the colleges of education for primary teachers; one such course ran from January 1995 to June 1996 and a further course is being run in the period January 1997 to June 1998. Discussions are currently on-going with the authorities of the colleges with a view to running this course again in the near future. A public announcement will be made by my Department when this matter has been finalised.
