asked the Minister for Education (a) the number of untrained primary teachers in County Donegal, (b) the figure as a percentage of the total number of primary teachers in the county and (c) if he will relate this to the national average.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Donegal Primary Teachers.
114.
There are 69 untrained teachers serving in national schools in County Donegal. This represents 10.8 per cent of the total number of teachers employed in national schools in the county.
The percentage of untrained teachers serving in various national schools throughout the country is 10.5.
The figures for untrained teachers are steadily decreasing because since 1957 no untrained teachers have been recruited on a permanent basis and those previously recognised as junior assistant mistresses and who are under 56 years of age, through attendance at summer courses, are being given an opportunity to obtain trained teacher status.