Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 July 2008
5 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps he is taking to address the English language deficit of legally resident migrants; the steps which have been taken to date to provide additional resources to vocational education committees to take over the operation of the Integrate Ireland Language and Training programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26392/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe English language needs of legally resident migrants are being addressed on a number of fronts.
First, there are currently almost 2,000 English language resource teachers working in our primary and post-primary schools at an annual cost of some €120 million. This number has increased from 262 teachers in 2001-02. I believe most Members will accept that this is a significant upping of resources.
The arrangements for enhanced provision of English language resource teachers were set out in a circular from my Department which issued to schools in May 2007. The previous restriction of two such teachers per school was removed and a two-year limit of English language classes for the students was also lifted, where a specific request is made. A school with more than 121 pupils with English language needs can now have six English language resource teachers. Resource materials, including intercultural guidelines and assessment kits, have been prepared and provided to assist teachers with this work.
Second, for adult migrants the network of VECs throughout the country provides English language classes. In 2007 there were approximately l3,000 students attending these English language classes at a cost to the Exchequer, or to the VECs, of approximately €10 million.
Third, Integrate Ireland Language and Training, IILT, provided English language classes to immigrants with refugee status. In 2007, just over 900 learners attended IILT courses at 12 centres around Ireland. Due to turnover, approximately 450 students are in direct tuition at any one time.
IILT approached my Department earlier this year with a proposal to withdraw from direct tuition for adult refugees and with a request that this tuition be mainstreamed. IILT envisaged continuing direct tuition for a group of up to 200 programme refugees, namely, those on the resettlement programme. I accepted that mainstreaming of service provision was appropriate as it accords with the overall approach to provision of services to migrants as set out in Migration Nation — A Statement by the Government on Integration Strategy and Diversity Management, a report I wrote myself and recently launched.
In this context, it was decided that all direct tuition provision should be mainstreamed and provided by VECs as it would be less efficient to seek to continue with a small element of provision by IILT.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
The funding allocated to IILT will now be redirected to provide for the continuation of this service to refugees through the VEC network. The Irish Vocational Education Association, IVEA, has confirmed that it is happy to co-operate and collaborate with my Department in the delivery of English language services through its nationwide network of 33 VECs. The VEC sector has already developed best practice in teaching English for speakers of other languages, ESOL.
My Department has already had discussions with the IVEA with a view to ensuring a smooth transition to the system. An independent review was commissioned to develop a national English language policy and framework for legally resident adult immigrants. The review involved extensive stakeholder consultations. I await the report and recommendations which will inform the future development of provision for adult immigrants.
The statement issued by the Department announced that, via the VECs, the Department would immediately take over the provision of the service for refugees. I presume that means from 1 August. If that is the case why was the IVEA approached to come into the Department about this matter only last week? What additional funding will be provided to the VECs? What funding over and above that provided to IILT will be given to the VECs? Surely it will cost more money if it is to be mainstreamed rather than continue as the pilot scheme in place to date.
Why have the VECs not yet been given any indication of the additional funding that will be provided? They must have this service in place within less than a month. Is it not the case that, because of the lack of adequate funds, funding will be taken away from the training and education of the indigenous population to support this scheme?
I apologise to the Deputy because time did not allow me to read the full answer into the record of the House. I assure him and anybody else concerned about this issue that this particular service is being mainstreamed. The provision for IILT service will be incorporated in the overall provision that the VECs will now deliver in place of IILT. This service is now to be mainstreamed through the network of 33 VECs across the country so there is absolutely no question of there being a shortfall. The cost will be absorbed by mainstream spending through the VECs which is very good news for the service and for migrants in particular. Rather than being on a pilot basis the service will be part of the conventional provision made by the Department. Any funding that IILT had will be given to the VEC structure and network.
I thank the Minister of State for his reply. In light of that information is it not the case that there is to be no additional funding over and above what was given to IILT? As a result the money will be spread over 33 centres instead of 14. Is it not a fact that the existing services provided by the VECs around the country will be directly impacted as a result of this decision?
What specific provision is being made to retain the staff and expertise developed over the past nine years by IILT? I understand that the IVEA recommended this expertise should be incorporated into the VECs throughout the country. Will the Minister of State give a specific recommendation that the staff be taken on in this manner?
From the point of view of Government it is very clear what is happening. IILT is a private not-for-profit company based on the Trinity College campus. It makes the decisions with regard to this matter. It approached the Department with a view to ending its service because it is delighted, as we are, that it is now to be mainstreamed. The decisions will be made by the company in the first instance, with regard to redundancy payments and entitlements. In terms of the actual provision, the VEC network was enthusiastic about taking on this particular challenge. It is not looking at the situation as a burden that will involve extra stress or pressure.
The CEOs around the country are saying that.
The VEC officials are in direct discussions with me. I have spoken to them twice within the past week and my officials are in constant contact——
They are extremely concerned.
The priority from my officials' point of view is that there be a seamless transition to the mainstream option. That will happen in July and August this year and nobody will be at a loss because of it.
With regard to the staffing issues and the expertise the Deputy referred to as being lost, namely, the 40 teachers who are ably represented by SIPTU, that is a matter for negotiation between that union and the staff and management involved from IILT. Obviously any decision by the VECs to employ any of those 40 teaching staff who will lose their jobs because of IILT's decision to close will be a matter for the VECs. I cannot dictate to them that they should employ one person over another. From the point of view of the VECs, the employment of staff will involve an open competition.
Not one red cent will be spent.
Given the experts——
There will be twice as many centres.
