Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for not granting full-time status to a centre (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if she will reconsider her decision; the measures needed to ensure that the centre may obtain full-time status in the future in the event that she will not reconsider her decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21706/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The part-time Education Centre covered by the Deputy's question is part of a network of twenty one full-time and nine part-time Education Centres which are located throughout the Country. Education Centres provide professional development and support for teachers and the wider education community through meeting locally researched and identified teacher and school community needs. They also provide this professional development and support through involvement in national in-service programmes, involving either curricular reform or support on specific issues such as special needs.

I am satisfied that the existing Education Centre network, as it is currently constituted, is sufficient to meet the professional development needs of teachers and, accordingly, I have no plans to expand the Network at this time. I will, however, continue to keep the position under review, particularly in light of emerging needs. Finally, I understand that officials in the Teacher Education Section of my Department, who are charged with the management and administration of all matters relating to the Education Centre Network, have arranged to meet with the Management Committee at the Centre in the coming weeks to discuss any outstanding matters of concern.