Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a centre (details supplied) will be upgraded from part-time status to full-time status; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34394/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are 21 full-time and nine part-time education support centres. The Education Act 1998 outlined their role as "providing services for schools, teachers, parents, boards and other relevant persons which support them in carrying out their functions in respect of the provision of education".

I have recently received a submission from the part-time education centre in question, requesting that it be given full-time status. Officials in the Department of Education and Science are examining the submission in the context of the existing education centre network. This work is being undertaken in the context of the many competing demands for resources in the area of teacher education and development, in addition to the overall resources available to the Department of Education and Science. When this examination is complete, which is expected shortly, my officials will contact the authorities of the part-time education centre directly.