Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 308: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the contacts she has had with a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 in respect of the challenges faced by the school regarding their international community; the assistance being offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41942/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Staff from my Department visited the area earlier this year and met with the Principals of both the Junior and Senior schools. At that time international enrolment in the Junior school was 182 pupils out of a total enrolment of 517. The corresponding figures for the Senior school were 188 out of a total enrolment of 521. The principals gave a presentation on the administrative and educational challenges facing the schools arising from the increase in newcomer pupils. The Department undertook to consider the schools' requests for additional language support teachers in the short term and for other additional resources in the longer term. In this connection, the Department conveyed approval to the Principal of the Senior School on 20 June, 2006 for the appointment of a third fulltime temporary teaching post provisionally for the 2006/2007 school year. As the Junior school already has three language support teacher posts sanctioned by the Department — the maximum allowed under current arrangements — no additional supports could be granted in the short term.

Between extra language support posts and grant aid, the level of support provided to schools to meet the needs of children whose first language is not English has increased dramatically in recent years. Nonetheless I am very conscious of the pressures on schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, that have large numbers of non-English speaking children enrolled. I am determined to provide greater support for these schools. To that end, provision has been made in the 2007 Estimates for an extra 200 language support teachers in 2007. A further 350 posts will be provided under the Towards 2016 partnership agreement between 2008 and 2009. These extra posts will allow the current cap of 2 teachers per school to be reformed.

While details as to the precise number of posts to be allocated at both levels in the current school year and the schools to which the posts will be allocated have yet to be finalised I can assure the Deputy that I will be anxious to ensure that the additional resources are properly targeted at those areas where they are most needed.

A comprehensive strategy is currently being finalised which will ensure that the extra investment in this area is being used to the best effect, and that it is underpinned by the right support and training for teachers.