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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

673 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm his continued support for the smaller schools with particular reference to those schools having less than three teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8434/99]

An Action Programme for the Millennium gave a specific commitment in relation to one teacher schools, and indicated that all one teacher schools with ten or more pupils would be allocated a second teacher.

The Deputy may recall that, with effect from September 1998, I reduced the minimum enrolment figure required for the appointment of a second teacher from 25 to 18 pupils. At the same time I also reduced the minimum enrolment necessary to retain a second post from 23 to 18. As a consequence of these initiatives, a total of 53 schools which otherwise would have had to operate as one teacher units have the services of a second teacher for the current school year. Furthermore, I allowed 14 schools which had enrolments below 18 pupils to continue to operate as two teacher units in the 1998-99 school year.

The Department will also be aware from my recent announcement that I am introducing additional measures from September next to further improve the position of one teacher schools. Further reductions in both appointment and retention figures from 18 to 14 pupils will benefit 43 schools, while a further seven schools which are currently two teacher units but which have an enrolment below 14 pupils will continue to operate as two teacher units in the 1999-2000 school year. In addition, improvements will be implemented in relation to the staffing schedule for two and three teacher schools.

I can also assure the Deputy that all schools with ten or more pupils will have a second teaching post within the lifetime of this Government. I would also point to a range of funding initiatives such as schools IT2000 and the special school library books grant which have given significant extra resources to these schools.

The above initiatives clearly demonstrate the Government's commitment to small schools, and I am determined to put further improvements in place in the next number of years.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

674 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by schools at pri mary and secondary levels which have difficulty obtaining trained teaching staff to provide cover in the event of illness or maternity leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8435/99]

Since coming into office, I have been concerned at the large number of untrained personnel working within the primary school system. For these reasons, I have introduced a range of measures which are designed to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers. Specifically, I have ensured that there are over 1,000 places available in the colleges of education during the current academic year. This includes 730 students who will pursue the three year B.Ed degree programme while 280 degree holders will be admitted to an 18 month full-time post graduate course. Additionally, 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 will be recognised as fully trained.

I am also examining the possibility of the University of Limerick providing a one year conversion course for degree holders who hold the higher diploma in education and who have either Irish as part of their degree or have Irish to grade C at the leaving certificate or its equivalent.

I have further decided that from 1 September 1998, all primary degree holders who also hold the higher diploma in education are recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing substitution service.

Finally, Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dun Laoghaire, which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, are granted recognition as fully trained substitutes since 1 September 1998.

The appointment of substitutes to replace second level teachers absent on approved leave, including sick leave or maternity leave, is a matter in the first instance for the authorities of the schools concerned. While on occasion individual school authorities may experience difficulties in securing a teacher qualified in a specific subject area, I am satisfied that, in general, qualified second level teachers are appointed as substitutes in second level schools.

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