Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I am disappointed that neither the Minister for Education and Science nor a Minister of State at his Department is present for this debate. That is no reflection on the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, but merely a reflection of the seriousness of the issue we are discussing. In recent years, the Department of Education and Science has encouraged young people to enter the teaching profession. Many people have done this through the higher diploma course, having first attained a degree elsewhere and proceeded to the 18 month graduate course or the Hibernian College on-line course. I speak on behalf of several students in County Wexford and I am aware of students in a similar position in counties Limerick, Cork, Waterford and Galway. Deputy Tom Sheahan will speak for students from County Kerry. Some students have completed an 18 month course either on-line or in one of the teacher training colleges and are now in teaching placement. During this first year of teaching, they are to be assessed by a suitably qualified inspector from the Department of Education and Science. There are three such assessments or inspections due. The first involves an introductory inspection and an initial call from the inspector. The second assessment involves a mini-diploma, whereby the inspector stays with the student for two or three hours or a half a day. Then there is the full-diploma assessment, whereby the inspector stays with the student for a full day's teaching. This must be carried out within the first year of qualification.

A concerned student contacted me as no one from the Department had called to the school to arrange assessments with her. She made inquiries last week and was told that because of education cutbacks, she would not be assessed this year. This person is in dire straits as are her fellow students. She intended to complete her first year teaching practice as she wishes to travel abroad for two or three years. If this person is not assessed this year, she may have to cancel her plans. I do not believe it is fair on any person or student to have to put his or her life on hold because of the Department of Education and Science cutbacks. Will the Minister of State agree this is an outrageous situation for any student? Will the Minister of State relay to the Department the concerns raised by me this evening?

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Kehoe and I are sharing time on this matter as we have been contacted by many teachers and trainees or those soon to qualify. The highest concentration of teachers in the country are from County Kerry. I believe this extends to primary school teachers. We will hear a response from the Minister of State, but unfortunately we will not have the opportunity to respond. We are led to believe that the halt in assessments is due to the cuts in the education budget. The Minister for Education and Science has already inflicted devastating cuts on the teaching profession. From January onwards, some 2,000 teachers will lose their jobs. As with those who have contacted Deputy Kehoe, those who have contacted me wish to qualify as teachers. They seek the qualification to allow them to teach while travelling in another jurisdiction, country or continent.

These people entered the profession in good faith. They have a legitimate expectation that the Department would carry out its obligations. The students are willing to complete their studies in the normal manner, regardless of what follows. I appreciate the Minister will cut 2,000 teaching jobs in January. I am conscious time is limited and we could debate the matter throughout the night, but I imagine the former leader of Fianna Fáil, Mr. Eamon de Valera, would be turning in his grave were he aware of what is happening in the State at present. Mr. de Valera once said that "no longer will our children, like our cattle, be brought up for export". Unfortunately, the trainee teachers of the country, along with the 2,000 who will lose their jobs in January, have no option. Will the Minister for Education and Science put a process in place whereby those in training at present for a higher diploma in education be afforded the opportunity to qualify and receive the diploma?

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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I will reply to this matter on behalf of my colleague and Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe.

I am glad to have this opportunity to update the House on the current position of the probation of primary teachers. As a result of the very significant increase in teaching posts that the Department has provided to primary schools in recent years, the number of applicants for probation as primary teachers has increased significantly from 1,000 in the school year 2001-02 to 2,639 in the 2007-08 school year.

The Department of Education and Science undertakes a range of activities to ensure that newly qualified teachers are informed about the probationary process. Department inspectors make presentations to all final year students in colleges of education each year. Guidelines for probationary teachers have been published and are widely disseminated among probationary teachers. They are also available on the Department's website. In conjunction with the education centre network, probationary teachers are invited to seminars to inform them of the probationary process in September each year.

Revised application procedures for probation were introduced in 2006. All primary schools are now advised in June each year to notify the Department regarding teachers who may be eligible for probation. A series of dates are nominated for submission of applications. The due date for round one is by the end of June, round two by the middle of September, round three by the beginning of November and round four by the middle of January.

The parameters surrounding the probationary process are outlined in the Department of Education and Science circular 0140/2006. There are two dimensions to the probationary process, namely, service and professional. Normally, probation is completed within a school year. However, circumstances may arise where there is a need to extend the process, whether because of concerns regarding the teacher's competence, or because he or she is absent from school for prolonged periods. While on probation, a teacher is visited by an inspector who provides two reports on the teacher's work and makes the judgment whether the teacher's work is satisfactory. Satisfactory completion of probation is currently a condition required for full registration with the teaching council.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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The inspectors are not calling, that is the problem.

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State without interruption, please.

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the 2008-09 school year, the position is that some 2,445 of a total of 2,537 teachers who registered for probation during rounds one, two and three have been deemed eligible. Of the total number of teachers, some 1,953 have been assigned to inspectors. Priority was first given to the very small number of applicants from the last school year whose probation could not be processed and to the 235 cases from within last year's total where probation was extended or deferred. Priority was then given, as far as possible, to those who had registered in accordance with the various stages of the application process.

The unassigned cases are mainly in the greater Dublin and the east coast areas and this situation has arisen because of the concentration of probationary teachers in newly developing areas. Arrangements are being made at present to assign the remaining 492 cases and it is expected that all the teachers concerned will be notified within the coming weeks.

While a newly qualified teacher has a period of five years to become probated, the Department of Education and Science requires all eligible teachers to register for probation as soon as they take up a teaching post.

The Department of Education and Science keeps the requirement for probation under review from time to time and is doing so at present in the context that the teaching council, established under the Teaching Council Act of 2001, will have responsibility for probation. The teaching council will establish procedures and criteria for probation when the relevant section of the Act is commenced. I thank the Deputies again for giving me the opportunity to update the House on the current position of probation of primary teachers and I am pleased to allay the concerns of new primary teachers in Kerry, Wexford and other areas on their participation in the probation process this year.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The concerns will not be allayed.