Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an organisation (details supplied) has no training seminars for language support teachers scheduled for 2007, notwithstanding the fact that they were contracted by her Department for this purpose and that the only teaching English as an additional language course available is an on-line course organised by teachers themselves for a fee of €165; if in view of this and of the urgent necessity for trained language support teachers, her Department will provide funding for teachers to take the on-line course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27963/07]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied that the training for teachers teaching English as an additional language provided by an organisation (details supplied) complies with international best practice; if her attention has been drawn to criticism of the methods used in this course, particularly the lack of hands-on professional development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27965/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 156 together.

Integrate Ireland Language and Training, (IILT) was established in 2001. It's remit includes responsibility for the provision of support to teachers of ESL in primary and second-level schools.

The main areas of work of IILT are:

The preparation and provision of scaled curricula

The preparation and provision of teaching and learning materials

The organisation and delivery of seminars for language support teachers

Language assessment kits, based on best international practice are to be provided to all primary schools during the 2007/08 school year. The kits will enable accurate initial and on-going assessment of language proficiency of newcomer children with a particular focus upon assessing whether language support needs to be provided beyond the current two year limit.

My Department has also distributed a resource book ("Up and Away") to all primary schools which will assist teachers of ESL. In addition, my Department will shortly distribute a set of resource materials prepared by IILT to all second level schools to support the teaching and learning of ESL.

In addition IILT has provided a number of seminars for teachers in 2007.

I am aware also that teachers of ESL have recently established a professional network, English Language Support Teachers Association, (ELSTA) under the Teacher Professional Network Scheme which is funded through Teacher Education Section in my Department. This network will assist teachers of ESL in the provision of peer professional development.

It is in the context of these various initiatives that the ongoing professional development of language support teachers is being considered by my Department.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to concerns that the system of hiring teachers to teach English as additional language on only a temporary basis, or putting permanent teachers into these positions for two years or less, results in a wasting of all the expertise attained by the teacher during this period; if she will make the positions permanent or offer ongoing and continuous training for EAL teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27964/07]

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 allocates additional teaching support or portions of teacher posts to schools.

The level of extra teaching support provided to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible non-English speaking students enrolled and the associated assessed levels of pupils' language proficiency.

Each school management can decide on the structure of the support to be provided in its own school.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority subject to agreed procedures. It is a matter for the school authority to deploy the teacher allocation having regard to the proficiency levels of individual pupils involved and in line with their evolving needs.

The resource allocated for language support in respect of individual pupils is given for a temporary period and accordingly the posts provided for this purpose may only be approved on a temporary basis.

There has been a significant increase in the number of language support teachers in recent years. Ongoing training is being provided to these teachers with eleven seminars arranged in 2007.

Teachers of English as a second language (ESL) have recently established a professional network, English Language Support Teachers Association, (ELSTA) under the Teacher Professional Network Scheme which is funded by my Department. This network will assist teachers of ESL in the provision of peer professional development.

In view of the significant increase in the number of language support teachers my Department is currently investigating the establishment of an integrated support structure for teachers of English as a second language at primary and post primary level.