Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no suitable courses in the Dublin area for the preparation of An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge; if she will address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30335/05]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the costs involved in the preparation for An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge; if the refund will be increased to take account of the real cost involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30336/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 544 together.

Arrangements have been put in place enabling teachers qualified outside the State to be granted recognition to teach in primary schools provided that their qualifications meet the requirements set by my Department.

Two forms of recognition are granted to these teachers: provisional recognition to commence teaching in mainstream primary schools, or restricted recognition to teach only in special schools or classes where Irish is not a curricular requirement. Holders of provisional recognition have five years in which they must pass an examination in the Irish language referred to as "An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cailíochta sa Ghaeilge", SCG, which qualifies them to full recognition to teach in a primary school. As an exceptional measure, this five-year period has been extended to seven years for those candidates who had provisional recognition in April 2004. If candidates do not pass the SCG examination within the specified period they lose their provisional recognition.

The SCG examination consists of four elements: two written papers with aural and oral components. In addition, candidates must provide certification that they have attended an approved Gaeltacht course for a specific time-period: three-week, or its aggregated equivalent either in one-week blocks or in a combination of one-week and two-week blocks.

Regarding course provision, a number of education centres throughout the country, which are directly funded by my Department, are providing preparation courses for the SCG examination at a reasonable cost that has been set by my Department. In the Dublin area, I understand that Blackrock Education Centre and Drumcondra Education Centre are delivering such courses for the 2005-06 year. These courses are based upon a 40 hour training programme, funded by my Department, which was developed by the Irish Department in Coláiste Mhuire Marino. The courses have been very successful with 400 of the 520 candidates who sat the examination in March 2005 passing — the best outcome to date.

I understand there are also other providers of courses for the SCG which charge rates to students different from those which apply in the courses run through education centres. As these providers include privately-owned institutions and individuals, I do not have any role in relation to these courses or their related fees.

In regard to the costs involved in the preparation for the SCG, I presume the Deputy is referring to the cost incurred by candidates to attend the Gaeltacht in accordance with the SCG requirements. In that context, since May 2000, on successful completion of the SCG by candidates and on receipt of certification that they have resided in the Gaeltacht while attending an approved Gaeltacht course, my Department refunds a proportion of the fees incurred by candidates. This refund is equivalent to the subsidy payable to the colleges of education students for analogous courses. At present, the subsidy is €471.71 per candidate. I do not intend to increase this subsidy for the coming year. There is no provision for making a refund to students for any other costs incurred in preparing for the SCG examination.

It should be noted that once a teacher has been granted full recognition to teach in a primary school he or she can progress along the teacher pay scales with a consequential increase in salary.