John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 556: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of additional language resource teachers that have been appointed for schools in County Sligo; the steps she has taken in relation 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. [11286/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced the allocation of 200 extra language support posts to schools, bringing the total number of language support teachers in our schools to 1,450. These new resources are intended for schools with large numbers of pupils who do not have English as a first language. Under the revised arrangements, depending on the number of eligible pupils enrolled, schools may now have up to six language support teachers. In addition, the limit of two years' support for an individual pupil no longer applies.

The additional 200 teachers are part of the Government's commitment in Towards 2016 to provide an extra 550 language support teachers by 2009 and to reform the limit of two teachers per school. It is intended that a further 350 language support teachers will be provided between 2008 and 2009.

In order to ensure that schools can accurately and objectively assess the language requirement of children, my Department will be sending to primary schools assessment materials which have been developed by Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT). The assessment materials will enable schools to ensure that the specific language requirements of children needing support are met in a targeted way. The IILT materials will also enable accurate initial and on-going assessment of the language proficiency of the child and his or her need for continued language support.

The deployment of language resource teachers will depend on the specific needs of the pupils and this is left to the discretion of the school authorities. There are currently 10 language support posts allocated to primary schools in County Sligo.