Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Dec 2000

Vol. 527 No. 5

Written Answers. - Primary Teacher Statistics.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

242 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of graduates from the colleges of education for primary teaching for each of the past five years; the number of these graduates who have taken a post in a primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29169/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

A total of 2,948 primary teachers qualified from the colleges of education in the past five years. The breakdown is as follows:

1996	599
1997	429
1998	605
1999	469
2000	846

Of that number, 2,915 have actually taken up teaching positions in primary schools.

Measures introduced by this Government will boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers emerging from the colleges of education over the coming years. As a result of these measures, almost 850 trained teachers qualified this year, while the 2001 figure will be in excess of 1,000. These figures represent a huge increase on the 1997 figure, when 429 graduated.

Furthermore, the intake of students to the colleges of education was increased to 1,000 in 1999. A similar number enrolled this year and it is projected that this level of intake will continue for next year. In addition, another 18 month conversion courses involving approximately 280 post graduates will commence in February 2001.