Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 2 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 2

Written Answers - School Staffing.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

67 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the severe difficulties of many school in areas of social and economic disadvantage in attracting and retaining teachers, especially at primary level; and the steps which he will take to deal with this problem. [12316/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

I am aware that a number of primary schools are experiencing some difficulties in recruiting qualified teachers. This has arisen because of two main factors. This Government has increased demand for teachers generally by the creation of 2,315 posts to reduce the pupil-teacher ratios and increase support for children with a disability or disadvantage and the number of trained teachers graduating from our training colleges has fallen to a very low level. For example, only 291 graduated in 1995.

The Government has taken effective action to boost substantially the supply of trained primary teachers and alleviate these difficulties. The total intake to the colleges of education for primary teaching in the 1999-00 academic year was increased to 1,283. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-97.

There are approximately 1,000 student teachers again enrolled in the first year of the undergraduate training course in the 2000-01 academic year. A further post-graduate course commenced in February this year with an intake of 280 students, bringing the total to 1,280.

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. In addition negotiations are taking place with the colleges of education for the provision of a further post-graduate course next year.

Between the 2000 and 2001 academic years it is projected that approximately 1,900 qualified primary teachers will graduate from our colleges of education. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates as compared with 1995 when 291 graduated.

Other initiatives to increase the number of trained personnel have also been introduced. Bachelor of Education graduates from St. Mary's College, Belfast who have studied Irish to honours level, as an academic subject, as part of their teaching qualification are now recognised as fully qualified.

Since September 1998 all primary degree holders who hold the Higher Diploma in Education are paid as fully trained substitute teachers. In the current academic year, teachers, employed in a temporary capacity holding a degree and the Higher Diploma in Education, are paid on the trained basic scale for teachers.

Teachers trained in EU countries employed in primary schools are now remunerated at the trained rate pending their obtaining the necessary competence in the Irish language. EU trained teachers now have up to five years to obtain the necessary competence in the language. In addition, for the period of two years from 1 September 2000, teachers trained outside the EU whose qualifications are accepted by my Department will be granted provisional recognition for five years on the same basis as EU trained teachers.

Montessori trained teachers who successfully completed the full-time course of three years duration at St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, which is recognised by the National Council for Educational Awards, or the Montessori qualification which is awarded on completion of the three year full-time course in the AMI College, are recognised as being fully qualified substitute teachers and are recognised to teach in certain categories of special schools and classes.

The decision to recognise fully qualified teachers who trained outside the State to teach in certain categories of schools and classes, without the necessity to hold an Irish language qualification, is also contributing to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers.