Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 5

Written Answers. - Inservice Training.

Richard Bruton

Question:

128 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimate, if any, he has received on the cost of provision of private sector tutors for insevice training regarding the IT2000 support; if his Department is offering a comparable rate to teachers who undertake this work; and the consideration, if any, he has given to provide a technician for groups of schools at least in the first start-up period. [6506/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

It has been the practice for a limited number of education centres to avail of the services of a relatively small number of private sector tutors to provide inservice training to teachers under the Teaching Skills Initiative, TSI, of the Schools IT2000 project. Payments to this group of tutors was approximately £20,000 in 1998.

Private sector tutors and teachers at primary and second level who undertake this role are in receipt of the same rate of remuneration in respect of the delivery of courses.

At present, all equipment provided under the Technology Integration Initiative, TII, is under warranty. In the current year, the NCTE will be piloting models of technical support regionally.