Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to reverse the growing feminisation of the teaching profession; if she proposes to alter the entrance requirements to facilitate a greater number of male applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9337/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Recently I launched a promotional campaign aimed at encouraging more men to consider primary teaching as a career choice. Studies have shown that decreasing numbers of men are applying to become primary school teachers, both in Ireland and across the developed world. The first phase of the Men As Teachers and Educators campaign has seen newspaper and radio advertisements highlighting the key attributes and strengths of primary school teachers. The campaign is seeking to remind parents, students, teachers, guidance counsellors and all those thinking about career options about the valuable and rewarding work undertaken each day in our primary schools.

I hope this campaign will make young men take a look at the valuable contribution they can make through a career as a primary school teacher. The report of the primary education committee Males into Primary Teaching, contains a number of recommendations all of which are under active consideration in my Department.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools where teaching posts were suppressed in each year since 2000; the number of teaching posts involved; the number of disadvantaged schools where teaching posts were suppressed in each year since 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9338/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. If the Deputy would like information on the staffing of a particular school, my officials would be happy to provide it.