Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

As the Deputy may be aware, the Government has dramatically increased the number of language support teachers from just over 250 in 2002 to nearly 2,000 this year. We have also placed an emphasis on developing specific materials for teaching English as a second language.

Integrate Ireland Language and Training has developed a number of key resources which have been distributed to all schools by the Department. These include comprehensive packs of classroom materials for language support teachers and recently a tool kit for diversity in the primary schools was issued to all primary schools on the island of Ireland as this was a North-South project. A language assessment kit for use in primary schools will be issued after Easter. The post-primary version of this assessment kit is currently being developed by IILT and will be available later this year. IILT has also delivered some seminars for teachers. However, its primary function has been one of research and direct provision to programme refugees and other non-nationals with leave to remain in the State and its role in teacher training has always been a limited one. Training for teachers in supporting students with English language needs is being provided in a number of ways.

All student teachers are given an awareness of inter-cultural issues, including the challenges of teaching students whose first language is not English. Language support teachers at primary level are qualified to teach English.

The review of initial teacher education being undertaken by the Teaching Council will undoubtedly be informed by the need for all teachers to be able to respond to the increasingly diverse backgrounds of our students.

Summer courses play a very significant role in meeting the professional development needs of primary teachers in particular. This year Coláiste Mhuire Marino, in conjunction with the INTO, piloted a national on-line course on teaching English as an additional language. More than 900 teachers participated in this course.

An English Language Support Teachers Association has recently been established under the teacher professional network scheme for post-primary teachers, which is funded by my Department. This network will assist post-primary language support teachers in the provision of peer professional development. The inspectors in my Department will conduct an evaluation of the provision of English as an additional language in a number of schools in the next school year. This will help identify needs and inform policy in this area for the future.

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