Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when a language teacher will be appointed to schools (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26743/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to meet the language needs of students in our schools whose first language is not English or Irish, additional support is given to their schools which can take the form of financial assistance, additional teaching posts or portions of 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. Schools with 14 or more such pupils are entitled to one or more language support teachers. Schools with between 3 and 13 eligible pupils receive grant assistance towards the cost of employing part-time teachers. Schools with 3 to 8 such pupils receive a grant of over €6,300, while schools with between 9 and 13 such pupils receive over €9,500. These amounts are based on the full school year. If the school only becomes eligible for a grant during the year, they would receive the pro-rata amount due. The position is outlined in Circular 0053/2007 which is available on my Department's website.

Each of the schools referred to by the Deputy qualify for grant assistance towards the employment of a part-time teacher. The appointment of a part-time teacher is a matter for the Board of Management of the individual schools concerned.