Vol. 529 No. 3
60 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider the introduction of a scheme similar to the Wilson graduate scheme of the late 1970s as a method of addressing the serious shortage of primary school teachers in order that graduates can more readily and at significantly less cost gain the necessary qualifications for primary school teaching; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2763/01]
As a response to a shortage in the supply of primary teachers, my Department requested the colleges of education to provide a postgraduate course to enable degree holders train as primary teachers. The duration of this full-time course is 18 months. The course was first provided in the 1995-96 academic year. It was repeated in 1997-98, in 1998-99 and again in February 2000. Another course will commence this month and will cater for a further 280 students.
There are no plans at present to introduce any other type of course for graduates.
