Michael Ring
Ceist:425 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on increasing the intake of students into colleges of education in order that there will be sufficient teachers to reduce class size. [18515/98]
Written Answers. - Teacher Training.
Michael Ring
Ceist:426 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on increasing the intake of students into colleges of education in order that there will be sufficient teachers to give a second teacher to one teacher schools. [18516/98]
Michael Ring
Ceist:427 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on increasing the intake of students into colleges of education in order that there will be sufficient teachers to provide a proper remedial service. [18517/98]
Michael Ring
Ceist:428 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on increasing the intake of students into colleges of education in order that there would be sufficient teachers to allow for the appointment of an administrative principal to schools of six teachers and over. [18518/98]
Michael Ring
Ceist:429 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on increasing the intake of students into colleges of education in order that there will be sufficient teachers to allow for substitute supply panels on a countrywide basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18519/98]
I intend to take Questions Nos. 425, 426, 427, 428 and 429 together.
On my appointment as Minister, I immediately recognised the need to increase the supply of trained teachers. Accordingly, last autumn, I increased the intake into graduate courses by 200.
I have continued this process in the current year by increasing the intake to the colleges of education to over 1,000 places. I intend to continue with this process for the next number of years.
I also introduced a range of measures which are designed to boost the supply of trained teachers including the recognition of 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. Additionally, I have agreed that B.Ed. graduates from St. Mary's College in Belfast will be recognised as fully qualified teachers provided that they have studied Irish to honours level as an academic subject as part of their teaching qualification.
Discussions have also commenced with the University of Limerick with a view to providing a one year course for primary degree holders who hold the higher diploma in education and who either have Irish as a final subject in their degree or have honours in Irish at leaving certificate level or its equivalent.
I recently announced that from 1 September 1998 all primary degree holders who also hold the higher diploma in education will be recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing substitution service provided that they have Irish to grade C at higher level leaving certificate standard or its equivalent.
Furthermore, Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the course of three years' duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, and which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, will, from 1 September 1998, be granted recognition as fully trained substitutes provided that they have Irish to grade C at higher level leaving certificate or its equivalent.
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:430 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will ensure that a special school place is found for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18546/98]
I understand that the child in question has recently been offered a place in a special school. My Department is currently awaiting confirmation from the child's mother that the proposed placement is acceptable.