Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 725: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teaching staff in 1998 and 2004 at second level, distinguishing by type of school; the number at third level, distinguishing universities and institutes of technology. [22502/05]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 730: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teaching staff at second level, distinguishing by type of school; the number at third level, distinguishing universities and institutes of technology in 2004. [22507/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 725 and 730 together.

At second level, the overall whole-time equivalent number of teaching staff for the 1998 to 1999 school year was 23,435. The breakdown between the sectors is as follows: secondary 13,223; vocational 6,602; community 3,026 and comprehensive, 584. In the 2004 to 2005 school year, the overall whole-time equivalent number of teaching staff is 24,962. The breakdown between the sectors is as follows: secondary, 13,269; vocational 7,634; community 3,434 and comprehensive, 625.

It is important to note that the number of students at post-primary level has decreased considerably during this time. In 1998 to 1999, there were 362,051 students at post-primary level. By 2003 to 2004 the numbers had decreased to 337,851.

At third level, the total number of teaching staff in universities was as follows: on 31 December 1998 there were 2,872 and on 31 December 2004, there were 3,839.

The number of teaching staff in institutes of technology was as follows: in the 1997 to 1998 academic year the whole-time equivalent academic staff was 3,581, technological sector, and 3,557, institutes of technology only, while in the 2003 to 2004 academic year, the whole-time equivalent academic staff was 4,544, technological sector, and 4,462, institutes of technology only. The figures for the 2004 to 2005 academic year are not yet available in respect of Institutes of Technology. The technological sector includes Tourism College, Killybegs, TCK and Tipperary Rural and Business Development Institute, TRBDI.