Proinsias De Rossa
Question:77 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science the current position on the promotions system for teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16118/00]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Concerns were raised that certain elements of the procedures for filling posts of responsibility in schools may be indirectly discriminatory on gender grounds under the terms of the Employment Equality Act, 1998. Arising from those concerns management authorities have not proceeded with the filling of certain promotion posts. My Department has now obtained legal advice from the Attorney General's office in relation to those concerns, a summary of which has been made available to the management bodies and teacher unions.
Discussions have already commenced with all the relevant parties with a view to reaching agreement on the necessary amendments. It is my intention that, once agreed, the revised procedures will issue immediately to all schools to facilitate the filling of the relevant promotion posts.
Dan Neville
Question:78 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to review the appointment period for school principals. [16184/00]
There are no plans at present to review the appointment period for school principals.
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:79 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the statement by his Department that thousands of primary school children are being taught by people without the proper training, he will report on the plans he has to rectify the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16119/00]
A range of measures have been introduced by this Government to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers. The intake of trainee primary teachers to the colleges of education was increased substantially in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 sessions. The total projected intake in the 1999-2000 academic year is 1,283 compared with an intake of 500 in 1996-97.
Between the 2000 and 2001 academic years it is projected that approximately 1,900 newly trained teachers shall graduate from the colleges of education. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates as compared with 1995 when 291 graduated. A number of other initiatives to reduce the number of untrained personnel have also been introduced. 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 and in the current academic year those with grade C honours in the leaving certificate are paid at the trained rate, when employed in a temporary capacity. Primary degree holders who hold the diploma in education, but do not have grade C in the honours leaving certificate, but commence employment after 1 April 2000, are paid at the trained rate for up to 14 weeks.
Teachers trained in EU countries employed in primary schools are now remunerated at the trained rate pending their obtaining the necessary competence in the Irish language. EU trained teachers previously had to acquire the necessary competence in the Irish language within three years of their first appointment to a primary school. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that EU trained teachers now have up to five years to obtain the necessary competence in the language.
Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, are also recognised as being fully qualified substitute teachers.
The 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, is also contributing to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers.