Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 7

Written Answers. - Primary Teachers.

Jack Wall

Question:

40 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the short-term, medium-term and long-term proposals, if any, he has to rectify the serious shortage of trained primary teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11077/98]

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

59 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps, if any, he is taking to deal with the shortage of qualified substitute teachers in view of the fact that his Department's figures show that 40 per cent of all substitute days during 1997 were taken by those without teaching qualifications; if he will ease the requirement for teachers from Northern Ireland to teach here, particularly in view of the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11061/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 59 together.

I am pleased to inform the Deputies that, in June of this year, over 600 newly qualified primary teachers will graduate. In addition, the supply panel scheme was extended earlier this year by the provision of a further 30 teachers. This scheme now operates in 17 locations throughout the country providing a pool of fully trained teachers to provide short-term substitute cover in a large number of schools. The scheme has already proved very successful in assisting boards of management to acquire the services of qualified substitute teachers.

However, it is clear that some schools are still having difficulty in filling permanent and substitute positions with trained teachers. This problem must be addressed as a matter of urgency. It must be acknowledged also that the level of reduction of student numbers going through the colleges of education was too severe.

On my appointment as Minister, I recognised this and increased the intake to graduate courses by 200 last September. This was an important first step, but I intend to go much further and to ensure that a permanent increase in primary teacher training places becomes effective as soon as this September.

In this context, urgent discussions are already under way between my officials and the colleges of education in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority in order to have a significant extra intake into BEd programmes this year. In addition, there will be a further intake of students onto the graduate programme.

My recent decision to recognise fully qualified teachers who trained outside the State to teach in certain categories of schools and classes without the necessity to hold an Irish language qualification will also contribute to an improvement in the supply of trained primary tachers. I am also exploring the possibility of certifying the qualifications in the Irish language of teachers in Northern Ireland who take Irish as part of their BEd degree.

These moves make a very definite contribution to addressing current needs and demonstrate that I not only recognise that there is a problem, I have already begun to deal with it.