Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 2

Written Answers. - Primary Teachers.

Michael Creed

Question:

194 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science the proposals, if any, he will introduce to facilitate conversion from secondary teacher to primary teacher in view of the current shortage of qualified primary school teachers. [3833/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

As the Deputy may be aware, 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. At present there are 280 students attending such a course.

In addition, the Deputy will be pleased to note that I am examining the possibility of the University of Limerick providing a one year conversion course for degree holders who hold the higher diploma in education and who have Irish as part of their degree, or, alternatively, Irish to grade C at the leaving certificate or its equivalent.

Additionally, I have further decided that from 1 September 1998, all primary degree holders who also hold the higher diploma in education shall be recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing substitution service.

I would point out to the Deputy that the initiatives which I have outlined above are merely a small part of a broad range of initiatives which I have implemented since coming into office in order to substantially boost the supply of trained primary teachers.