Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of days of in-service training provided for primary school teachers and secondary school teachers by her Department during the school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12413/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, through the Teacher Education Section, is fully committed to providing continuous professional development at primary and post primary level through in-service. At primary level, the Primary Curriculum Support Programme (PCSP) provides ongoing in-service and support to teachers in schools covering the revised Primary Curriculum, which was introduced in 1999. In the academic year 2006/07, the Primary Curriculum Support Programme have organised 2 seminar days for Drama and 1 seminar day for Social, Environmental, Scientific Education (SESE). There will be 1 planning day in each of these curriculum areas as well as 1 day for consolidation of Gaeilge/SPHE. A further day to allow for School Development Planning may also be taken. Therefore, schools may close for 7 days in total with Board of Management approval. In-service at primary level is mandatory for primary teachers. There are also a range of other supports available for primary level such as support through the Regional Curriculum Support Service (RCSS).

At post-primary level in-service is offered to teachers when there is a curricular change in the syllabus or when there is a high level of demand in a particular area. In-service at post primary level is not mandatory but fully supported by my Department by the provision of substitution for teachers attending in-service. The Second Level Support Service (SLSS) provides continuing support for the three senior cycle programmes (Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and Leaving Certificate Applied), the senior cycle subjects English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Home Economics, Mathematics in the Junior and Senior cycle, the Junior Certificate School Programme and Civic, Social and Political Education in the junior cycle. The intensive phase of in-service has been completed in some subjects and support is now available in a maintenance phase. Other support services outside of the SLSS include the Junior Science Support Service, Junior Cycle PE, History Support Service, Geography Support Service, T4 Technology Support Service, and the Social Personal Health Education Support Service. There is also a range of other supports available for post-primary teachers such as the National Behaviour Support Service, Junior Science Support Service and Integrate Ireland Language and Training.