Vol. 501 No. 6
422 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will sanction the appointment of a full-time secretary and a full-time caretaker to Sancta Maria primary school, Synge Street, Dublin 8, in view of the fact that this school can only offer employment for both positions on a part-time basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6982/99]
My Department provides funding towards the cost of secretarial and caretaking services in primary schools under two separate schemes. One scheme is the 1978-79 scheme for the employment of secretaries and caretakers under which my Department meets the full cost of salary and employer's PRSI. This is the scheme under which Sancta Maria primary school qualified for a shared secretary arrangement with Scoil na mBráthar, Francis Street, Dublin 8. However, this scheme is being phased out as posts become vacant and there is no provision for the appointment of full-time secretaries in posts which are being shared. In the circumstances it will not be possible to sanction the appointment of an additional full-time secretary to either school.
Arising from the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, a second scheme was introduced in 1992 whereby my Department provides additional capitation grants for primary schools towards the cost of caretaking and clerical services. This is the scheme under which the Sancta Maria primary school is assisted towards the cost of caretaking services.
423 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in relation to Sancta Maria, primary school, Synge Street, Dublin 8, he will sanction the appointment of a remedial maths teacher and teacher counsellor and where the need for a teacher counsellor has been acknowledged by the school's inspector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6983/99]
I am aware that the school to which the Deputy refers has made application to my Department for services of a support teacher, formerly known as a teacher counsellor.
The school in question is already included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and as such has been allocated an ex-quota concessionary teacher post. The school is also included in the home-school-community liaison service. I understand that the school also has the services of a remedial teacher. With regard to further remedial teacher allocations, my priority at present is to ensure that, all the first and second level schools will have access to a remedial service with effect from September next. The further remedial needs of the school to which the Deputy refers will be considered in the event of additional posts becoming available for allocation to schools which are already included in the service.
The operation of the pilot phase of the support teacher service is currently being evaluated by my Department. The question of further allocations of support teachers will be considered in the light of the outcome on that evaluation.
I can assure the Deputy that the needs of the school in question will be fully considered in the event of additional support teacher posts being allocated.
424 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the availability of qualified teachers for vacant temporary posts; the number of qualified teachers to come on stream in 1999; when they will be available; if the numbers available will be adequate to fill upcoming vacancies for permanent posts; if there will be a surplus of qualified teachers available to take up existing part-time posts; if there will be a number of qualified teachers available for any further part-time vacancies which may arise in the next academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6984/99]
I have been concerned since coming into office at the shortage of trained teachers at primary level, and I am aware of difficulties being experienced by many schools in securing the services of qualified teachers for both temporary and substitute posts. For this reason, I have introduced a range of measures which are designed to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers.
First, I ensured that the intake of students to the College of Education in the current school year was increased to over 1,000. This includes 748 students pursuing the three year B.Ed. degree programme, in addition to 280 degree holders who have commenced an 18 month full-time postgraduate teacher training course. I am committed to maintaining this level of intake over the next number of years.
Furthermore, I have arranged that B.Ed. graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast, who have studied Irish to honours level as an academic subject as part of their teaching qualifications will be recognised as fully trained.
I am examining the possibility of the University of Limerick providing a one year conversion course for degree holders who also hold the Higher Diploma in Education and who have Irish either as part of their degree or to higher level grade C in the leaving certificate or its equivalent. I further decided that from 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. Montessori trained teachers who have successfully completed the three year course at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, which is recognised by the NCEA shall also be granted recognition for substitute service with effect from September 1998.
