Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
472. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the total funding allocated in 2022 for professional development services for primary school teachers in reading recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13945/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraReading Recovery is a licensed, school-based, short-term early intervention programme targeting children aged around six who have specific difficulties with reading. The Department funded national teachers education support service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) provides a Reading Recovery Initial Professional Development programme (IPD) for new teachers to this programme as well as ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for specially trained teachers.
The programme is operational in DEIS schools as well as being extended to non DEIS schools where children from disadvantaged communities are supported in the programme. Reading Recovery involves intensive one-to-one lessons for 30 minutes a day with a specifically trained Reading Recovery teacher. This series of lessons is individually designed for each child, based on moment by moment observations by a highly trained teacher. The goal is for children to become effective readers and writers, and to be able to work within the average band of their class at age-appropriate levels of literacy.
The total funding provision by my Department for the operation of the Reading Recovery programme in 2022 is estimated at €1.2m. This funding relates to the salary costs of seconding teachers to provide the programme, substitute teacher costs relating to CPD events and core programme costs.
