Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the additional language resource teachers for schools in Dublin west and other areas for large numbers of international pupils with limited or no English language promised by her Department will commence work in these schools; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by students and teachers in many schools in relation to English language learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4480/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to ensure that children whose first language is not English can succeed at school, my Department gives additional support to their schools which can take the form of financial assistance, additional teaching posts or portions of teacher posts.

The level of extra financial or teaching support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible non-English speaking students enrolled. 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 schools in Dublin West, 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 Towards 2016 partnership agreement for the provision of an additional 550 language support teachers at primary and post-primary level by 2009. It is proposed to allocate 200 of these posts in 2007 with the balance being allocated in 2008 and 2009. These extra posts will allow the current limit 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.

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 236: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make arrangements if necessary by consulting with the Department of Finance to ensure that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be placed on the appropriate point of the scale agreed between the various parties in discussions in 2006. [4451/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be pleased to know that, following a review of the salary scale for persons engaged in the same category of employment as the person referred to by the Deputy, my Department is making the necessary arrangements to place this person on the appropriate point of the salary scale and to pay any arrears due.