John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will allocate laboratory technicians to schools to support the teaching of science at second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5014/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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It is my understanding that the availability of laboratory technicians has not been a universal feature of support for science teaching in second level schools and that in some countries that do provide this type of resource it is confined to certain types of schools. I am aware that the provision of technical assistants was one of some 39 recommendations in the Report of the Task Force on the Physical Sciences. However, the cost of the Task Force proposals is a total of some €244m, of which €66.3m would be a recurring annual cost.

The proposal for the provision of technical assistants is close to 30% of this recurring annual cost. Progress has been made on implementing 25 of the Task Force recommendations and my Department continues to progress the recommendations as resources permit in collaboration and consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, FORFAS and industry. As I have explained on previous occasions, I am not convinced of the value of providing laboratory assistants for schools.

And there is no doubt that provision of assistants in this area would lead to demands for similar assistance across other areas of the curriculum where there is a strong practical component. So as I have said, I remain to be convinced of the necessity for them. Nonetheless, I will keep the position under review.