Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 8

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Richard Bruton

Question:

129 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 1 December 1999, he will provide information on the number of teachers to whom salaries are paid as compared to the number of approved posts as a way of arriving at an estimate of unfilled vacancies. [27342/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

As the Deputy may be aware the appointment of primary teachers is a matter for the board of management of each individual school. My Department is not aware that there are unfilled posts in primary schools. However, there are 673 temporary teachers employed in primary schools being paid at the untrained rate in December 1999. The total number of untrained days taught in primary schools in the current school year to date is 70,207.

There are a number of teachers currently classified as untrained whose qualifications are being assessed that may be deemed qualified following assessment.

I would take this opportunity to remind the Deputy that I have introduced a range of measures to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers. The intake of trainee primary teachers to the colleges of education in the 1998-99 session was 1,028 and the projected intake in the 1999-2000 academic year is 1,000.

Between the 1999 and 2000 academic years a total of 1,380 newly trained teachers are due to graduate from the colleges of education. This includes 180 persons who will graduate prior to the end of the current school year. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates as compared with 1995 when 291 graduated.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have approved a number of other initiatives to reduce the number of untrained personnel. 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 are now recognised as fully qualified.

Since September 1998, all primary degree holders who hold the higher diploma in education are paid as fully trained substitute teachers. Primary degree holders who hold the higher diploma in education and have grade C or higher in the honours leaving certificate are paid the trained rate if appointed in a temporary capacity at primary level.

Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, and the AMI which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards are also recognised as being fully qualified substitute teachers.

My 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 teachers.