Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Teaching Posts.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

613 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which it is expected he will be able to fill the requirement in terms of teaching posts at primary, second and third level educational establishments in the future; if he proposes changes to meet such requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17315/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Staff recruitment and retention of staff is a challenge facing all employers in the public and private sectors in the current economic situation. I am aware of reports that in the case of some schools it is more difficult than heretofore to fill available posts in the education sector.

I am aware that a number of primary schools are experiencing some difficulties in recruiting qualified teachers. A range of measures has been introduced by this Government to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers and alleviate the difficulty.

The total intake to the colleges of education for primary teaching in the 1999-2000 academic year was 1,283. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-97. There are approximately 1,000 students again enrolled in the first year of the undergraduate training course in the 2000-01 academic year. A post-graduate course commenced early in 2001 with an intake of 280 students. The intake to the undergraduate training course for primary teachers will continue at the current level of 1,000 for the 2001-02 and 2002-03 academic years. Discussions are taking place with the colleges of education to commence a further post-graduate course in early 2002.

The projected requirements for primary teachers are considered by my Department on an ongoing basis taking account of changes in the demand and supply for teachers. Between the 2000 and 2001 academic years it is projected that approximately 1,900 qualified primary teachers will graduate from the colleges of education. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates as compared with 1995 when 291 graduated.

I am aware of the survey undertaken recently by the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, which indicated that some second level schools had experienced difficulties in recruiting qualified teachers. However, my Department is not aware of any second level school that has not filled its approved teacher allocation for the current school year.

The teacher supply and demand issue at second level is very complex. Analyses undertaken by my Department in 1997 indicated that there are regional and subject variations. Schools in certain locations have more difficulties in recruitment while specific subjects may pose particular difficulties. A further complicating factor is that vacancies in second level schools usually require specific subject combinations.

The number of places on the Higher Diploma in Education course has increased by 25% since 1997-98. My Department is continuing to review the supply and demand of second level teachers on an ongoing basis. Over the past number of years a range of measures has been implemented which has a positive impact on the supply and retention of teachers. These include increased number and proportion of permanent teaching posts; retention of supernumerary posts in the teaching service; improvement of access to teacher pension schemes; new management structure for schools with a significant increase in promotion posts for teachers; increased allowances for posts of responsibility; new management structure for schools which deliver adult education programmes; employee assistance service for teachers in certain areas; new career break and job sharing arrangements; in-career development for teachers; third level course fee refund scheme; qualifications allowances for all recognised teachers; recognition of qualifications for permanent appointment in vocational preparation and training courses; easing of Irish requirement for the generality of teachers; and extension and improvement of incremental credit arrangements including full credit for reckonable teaching service given in the EU.

In relation to the third level sector, I understand that the Higher Education Authority has not been formally advised by any university of serious difficulties in staff recruitment or retention. However, the authority has advised that in common with other sectors of the economy it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and retain clerical staff and personnel for posts in IT areas. I understand also that institutes of technology are experiencing some difficulties in recruiting and retaining clerical staff and staff for certain posts in areas such as information technology, electrical and electronic engineering. My Department is keeping the situation under review in conjunction with the management authorities of the institutes.