Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 109: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has received the report of the committee examining ways of attracting more men into primary teaching; the main findings of the report; the action she intends to take to ensure a better gender balance in the teaching profession; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19663/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the committee examining this issue held its final meeting recently and agreed the core elements of the report and that the final text of their report is being drafted at present. I expect to receive its report shortly.

The relatively low levels of men in the primary teaching forces, which is a feature common to all OECD countries, is an issue that is of concern to me. I believe it is important to attract more men into teaching for a number of reasons, not least of which is the positive role models that teachers provide in children's lives and the desirability of having both male and female role models in our schools.

I genuinely believe that teaching should be seen as an attractive profession for the best candidates of both genders. Teaching is fulfilling work which makes a huge social contribution. With the increases in teachers' salaries under partnership agreements and benchmarking in recent years, it is also now a well-paid job.

This Government wants to attract and reward the best teachers. In addition to increasing teachers' salaries, we have also undertaken other initiatives to enhance the status of the profession. Not least of these is the establishment of the Teaching Council as a professional regulatory body.

I know, however, that a particular focused effort must be made to encourage more men to become teachers, particularly at primary level. I look forward to receiving the committee's report, which I understand will make recommendations in respect of both short-term and long-term strategies for attracting more men into the profession.