Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

David Stanton

Question:

510 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received requests from St. Mary's Boys School, Carrigtwohill, County Cork regarding the provision of an additional teacher; the number of pupils enrolled in the school; the number of teachers; the provision under which the current pupil/teacher ratio has been determined; the action he will take in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23714/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department has received correspondence from the board of management of St. Mary's Boys School, Carrigtwohill, County Cork. The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. The actual number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular year following discussions with the education partners. The current staffing of the school in question is a principal and five mainstream class teachers based on the enrolment of 156 pupils on 30 September 2000. This is the authorised staffing for the 2001/2002 school year. The staffing schedule for primary schools for the 2001/2002 school year is outlined in circular 12/01. In addition, the school has a learning support teacher and a resource teacher for Travellers.

The school in question has been included in the rural dimension of the new programme – giving children an even break – which I launched in January last to deal with educational disadvantage in primary schools. Schools participating in the new programme are eligible to receive a range of additional supports including teacher posts and financial supports to be targeted at disadvantaged pupils. The additional supports to be provided reflect the level of concentration of pupils from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds in each school invited to participate in the programme. The school has been allocated supplementary grant aid of £879 for the 2000/2001 school year towards providing additional educational supports for the pupils concerned. On the same basis, the school will be allocated supplementary grant aid in respect of the current school year.

In the case of rural schools with the highest concentration of pupils with characteristics associated with educational disadvantage, it is proposed to cluster these schools and appoint a teacher/co-ordinator to each cluster. The school in question was not considered eligible for clustering based on the level of concentration of at-risk pupils in the schools as reflected in the Educational Research Centre survey outcome.

Denis Naughten

Question:

511 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans he has to implement recommendation No. 16 of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science Report on the availability of teaching staff in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23897/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

The Deputy will be aware that the Government has taken effective action to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers. The total intake to the Colleges of Education for primary teaching in the 2000-2001 academic year was increased to 1,282. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-97. There are approximately 1,000 students again enrolled in the first year of the undergraduate training course in the 2001-2002 academic year. The intake to the undergraduate training course for primary teachers will continue at the current level of 1,000 for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 academic years. In addition negotiations are taking place with the colleges of education for the provision of a further postgraduate course next year. Between the 2000 and 2001 academic years approximately 1,900 qualified primary teachers graduated. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates as compared with 1995 when 291 graduated.

Other initiatives to increase the number of trained 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. Since September 2000 teachers employed in a temporary capacity holding a degree and the higher diploma in education are paid on the trained basic scale for teachers. 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 now have up to five years to obtain the necessary competence in the language. In addition, for the period of two years from 1 September 2000 teachers trained outside the EU, whose qualifications are accepted by my Department, will be granted provisional recognition for five years on the same basis as EU trained teachers.

Montessori-trained teachers who successfully completed the full-time course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, or the Montessori qualification, which is awarded on completion of the three-year full-time course in the AMI College, are recognised as being fully-qualified substitute teachers and are recognised to teach in certain categories of special schools and classes.

The decision to recognise fully-qualified teachers who trained outside the State to teach in certain categories of schools and classes without needing to hold an Irish language qualification is also contributing to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers.

My Department will continue to monitor the position regarding the availability of trained teachers in primary schools. The recommendation of the Oireachtas Joint Committee referred to by the Deputy will be considered in that context.