Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 5

Written Answers. - Teaching Posts.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

114 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he did not allocate an additional 200 primary teaching posts in September 2000; when these posts will now be allocated; and the basis on which these allocations will be made. [21471/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I take it that the Deputy is referring to my plans for a major new initiative to address the needs of pupils who are encountering educational disadvantage in primary schools.

I have set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority for my Department. My objective is to introduce a range of significant and specifically targeted interventions, which will ensure that disadvantaged children receive the support they require to enable them to succeed in school. The interventions in question will take the form of extra teacher support or extra funding, or both, depending on the nature and level of need identified. To this end, I will be allocating 200 new teaching posts to primary schools shortly.

The background to this initiative is that earlier this year, all primary schools were invited to participate in a survey of educational disadvantage. The Educational Research Centre issued a comprehensive questionnaire to all schools together with guidance on its completion. The closing date for the return of the questionnaires was extended following representations from schools and others in this regard. The ERC and my Department provided clarification to schools in relation to particular aspects of the questionnaire where this was requested. In some cases, delay arose because it was also necessary to obtain clarification concerning data supplied by schools.

The analysis by the ERC of the responses received is now nearing completion. The survey findings will identify those schools that have significant concentrations of pupils with background characteristics associated with educational disadvantage and early school leaving. I will allocate the 200 new teaching posts and make grant allocations to the schools identified as soon as the survey findings become available.