Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Staffing.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

544 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a shortage of replacement teachers in Dublin and that schools frequently have problems in finding substitute teachers; and the length of time the schools must wait before the number of substitute teachers available is sufficient to meet demand. [9647/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I have been concerned since coming into office at the shortage of trained teachers at primary level, and I am aware of difficulties being experienced by many schools, in Dublin and elsewhere, in securing the services of qualified teachers for substitute posts. For this reason I have introduced a range of measures which are designed to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers.

Firstly, I ensured that the intake of students to the colleges of education in the current school year was increased to over 1,000. This includes 748 students pursuing the three-year B.Ed. degree programme, in addition to 280 degree holders who have commenced an 18-month full-time post-graduate teacher training course. I am committed to maintaining this level of intake in coming years.

Furthermore, I have arranged that 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 qualifications will be recognised as fully trained.

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

I further decided that from September 1998, all primary degree holders who also hold the higher diploma in education shall be recognised as fully trained for the purposes of providing substitution service. Montessori-trained teachers who have successfully completed the three-year course at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire which is recognised by the NCEA shall also be granted recognition for substitute service with effect from September 1998.

It is estimated that 500 newly-trained teachers will qualify at the end of the current academic year. I am satisfied that the supply of trained teachers will be adequate to fill all permanent posts arising in September next, including the additional teaching posts which I recently announced. However, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that there has been a shortage of trained teachers in the system for a number of years, and that this shortage cannot be completely eliminated in the short-term.

I am committed to ensuring that there will be a sufficient supply of trained teachers to meet all the future needs of the primary education system, including substitution needs, and I am satisfied that the initiatives I have already introduced will go a long way towards achieving this target.

Olivia Mitchell

Ceist:

546 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if St. Attracta's school, Meadowbrook, Dundrum, Dublin 14 will not lose a teacher from September 1999 in view of his announcement that no school will have a class size greater than 30. [9664/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I have examined the position in relation to both St. Attracta's junior and St. Attracta's senior in Meadowbrook, Dundrum, Dublin 14.

I can assure the Deputy that St. Attracta's junior school will retain its existing staffing levels in September 1999.

As a direct result of improvements to the staffing schedule which I recently announced, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that St. Attracta's senior school will be allocated an additional teaching post with effect from 1 September 1999.