Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 8 May 1997

Vol. 479 No. 1

Written Answers. - Art Teachers.

Joe Walsh

Ceist:

47 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Education the reason information is not readily available in her Department in relation to the simple matter of quantifying the number of art teachers in our second level system further to her reply to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 30 April 1997; the reason two out of four parts of the question were totally ignored in the reply, in particular the extent of art teaching by non-art trained teachers; and if she will make a statement on the reason for the seeming chaos in relation to the management and monitoring of this highly specialised teaching activity by her Department. [12321/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

In my reply of 30 April 1997 I stated that certain of the information requested by the Deputy was not readily available and I set out the criteria for appointment as a permanent teacher of art.

As the Deputy will be aware, teachers are employed by the authorities of individual schools. While my Department maintains individual teacher records for purposes of recognition and salary, these records are not fully computerised and therefore aggregrate details are not readily available.

I should say that maintenance of this information on a computerised basis is one of a range of enhancements being developed at present.

The Deputy's question focused on the issue of full-time and part-time status of teachers of art. All teachers appointed to permanent posts must be fully qualified. Appointees to eligible part-time and temporary posts must as a general rule be fully qualified. However, in exceptional cases where it is not possible to obtain a fully qualified person an appointee may be sanctioned in an unqualified eligible part-time capacity for one school year and the managerial authority must re-advertise the post for the following school year.

Neither the managerial authorities of second level schools nor the teacher unions have expressed concern to my Department regarding the qualifications of those involved in teaching art.

The Deputy's question also dealt with the issue of incremental credit and qualification related bonuses. Incremental credit is determined by an individual teacher's teaching and other eligible service. Qualification related allowances are determined on an individual basis by reference to that individual teacher's qualifications.

If the Deputy requires further details or clarification on any of these issues I will be happy to provide this.