Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way in which she proposes to provide extra teaching resources in order that young male applicants can improve leaving certificate higher grade Irish results in order to qualify for entry to primary school training colleges in accordance with her public campaign to encourage more young men to enter teacher training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4421/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the decreasing numbers of males entering the teaching profession, and it is an issue that is of concern to me. I believe that 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 believe that teaching should be seen as an attractive profession for both men and women. Teaching is fulfilling work which makes a huge social contribution.

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 have recently launched the report of the primary education committee, Males into Primary Teaching. The primary education committee was established in order to examine a range of issues in regard to males entering primary teaching, and to make recommendations on short-term and long-term strategies to increase the numbers in this regard.

The report draws on the professional insight of key experts in this area as well as drawing on a number of relevant research studies. The report's findings will be of significant benefit in assisting the development of future policy in this important area.

One of the key recommendations in the committee's report is that a co-ordinated promotion campaign, which would encourage boys as well as girls to enter primary teaching, should be undertaken. This promotion campaign commenced on 24 January, and is currently ongoing.

As the Deputy is aware, I have already stated that the senior cycle Irish curriculum will be reviewed as a matter of priority, with a view to putting more emphasis on oral Irish and to making learning the language more enjoyable for all students, male and female, at both ordinary and higher level.