Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding being provided towards language support for non-nationals; if there are plans to increase this figure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13442/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The needs of children whose first language is not English is met through a programme of language support provided by additional teachers at primary and second level who help children to improve their English language skills. Language support takes the form of financial assistance, additional temporary teacher posts or portions of teacher posts. The level of support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of non-English speaking students enrolled. Each school management can decide on the structure of the support to be provided in its own school. An allocation of two year's language support for each pupil is provided by my Department. Schools with 14 or more qualifying pupils get an additional full-time temporary teacher. Those with 28 or more get two teachers. A third post may be allocated in certain exceptional circumstances, following consideration by the Department's inspectorate.

Primary schools with between three and 13, inclusive, non-English speaking pupils receive grant assistance of €6,348.69 while schools with between nine and 13 such pupils receive grant assistance of €9,523.04. In the current school year grant assistance will be provided to approximately 425 primary schools with 13 or less non-English speaking, non-national pupils. In the case of post-primary schools which have fewer than 14 non-national pupils with significant English language difficulties enrolled, additional teaching hours, ranging from three hours per week in respect of one such pupil to 19.5 hours per week in respect of 13 pupils, are sanctioned.

In the current school year, the Department has provided 541 language support teachers at primary level and 261 whole-time equivalent teachers at second level to support such pupils, representing an investment of €46.5 million. Schools granted full language support teacher posts receive additional financial support to enable the purchase of resource materials suitable for use within the language support class or mainstream class.

Teachers are provided with in-service training through Integrate Ireland Language and Training Limited, IILT. IILT provides training seminars for language support teachers, part-time or whole time, along with classroom materials, including the European language portfolio, to assist them in meeting the English language needs of their pupils-students. It also develops classroom materials in partnership with practising classroom teachers. Grant support to IILT to provide training and resources for teachers and language tuition for refugees is currently of the order of €1.4 million. My Department is currently reviewing provision in this whole area with a view to determining the appropriate educational response to the needs of newcomer children, with particular reference to their language needs.