Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

The 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.

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