Cecilia Keaveney
Question:385 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary schools in County Donegal without a full com plement of full-time teachers and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23294/99]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:386 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on whether there is an adequate number of primary teachers in County Donegal since the take up of early retirements and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23295/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together.
My Department sanctions teacher allocations for each primary school based on a staffing schedule which issues each year. However, the appointment of teachers is a matter for each individual board of management. My Department does not maintain records, therefore, of any vacancies which individual schools may have at any given time.
I am aware that there is a shortage of trained teachers at present, and that some boards of management are having difficulty in appointing qualified teachers to schools. For this reason, I have introduced a range of measures designed to boost substantially the supply of trained teachers. Specifically, I have ensured that there are over 1,000 places available in the colleges of education during the current academic year. This includes 730 students who are pursuing the three year B. Ed degree programme while 280 degree holders are pursuing an 18 month full time post graduate course.
Additionally, 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 qualification will be recognised as fully trained.
I am also 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 either Irish as part of their degree or have Irish to grade C at the Leaving Certificate or its equivalent.
From 1 September 1998, all primary degree holders who also hold the Higher Diploma in Education have been recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing substitution service. In addition, from 1 September 1999, all primary degree holders who also hold the Higher Diploma in Education are recognised as fully trained for temporary teaching service provided that they have Irish to grade C at higher level leaving certificate standard or its equivalent.
Furthermore, Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dun Laoghaire, which is recognised by the NCEA, have been recognised from 1 September 1998 as fully trained substitutes provided that they Irish to Grade C at higher level leaving certificate or its equivalent.