Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 2

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

30 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of primary teachers who are expected to graduate from training colleges in each of the next four years; the corresponding numbers of teachers who are expected to retire in that period; and his views on the adequacy on the current level of teacher training. [2766/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

In the next four years it is projected that 1,000 undergraduates will graduate from the training colleges each year. In addition, it is projected that 280 postgraduates will graduate in 2002 and 440 in 2003. It is projected that 280 postgraduates will qualify in 2004 and 2005. However, the projections for postgraduates in 2004 and 2005 will be finalised after further discussions with the colleges of education.

It is projected that 580 teachers will retire on pension in each of the next four years. These projections include teachers retiring voluntarily, on compulsory grounds, those obtaining early retirement on grounds of ill health or under the early retirement scheme under the PCW agreement. Teachers may retire voluntarily with pension on reaching age 55 provided they have 35 years' service, or retire at any time after reaching age 60. Teachers who remain in teaching to compulsory retirement age must retire at age 65.

In addition to retirements, there is a range of other factors that affect the demand for teachers at primary level. The Government since taking office has retained the demographic dividend arising at primary level each year and has also created an unprecedented number of new teaching posts. A total of 1,800 new teaching posts have been created at primary level which has enabled the Government to reduce the pupil teacher ratio from 22.2:1 in the 1996-97 school year to 19:1 in the current school year.

The creation of this enormous number of additional teaching posts, allied to the fact that there are approximately 850 teachers on career break, 250 on secondment and 320 job sharing has created a huge demand for teachers in the short term. In addition to increasing the output of graduates, this Government has introduced other initiatives to increase the number of trained 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 and 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 the necessity to hold an Irish language qualification is also contributing to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers.

I am confident that the increase in the number of graduates and the other measures I have implemented as outlined will help to meet the current and future needs.