Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she is satisfied that the intake of trainee teachers to the various centres for teacher education is sufficient to meet the projected needs of the primary school system as calculated within her Department in order to reduce the pupil teacher ratio; the additional measures she proposes to take in order to ensure, in good time, an adequate supply of trained teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4847/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The level of student intake to the Colleges of Education is determined annually by my Department and it takes account of the supply of — and demand for — primary teachers. The number of students expected to graduate from the 2007/2008 academic year, from the Colleges of Education are as follows:

Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines: 31

Colaiste Mhuire, Marino: 150

Froebel College of Education, Blackrock: 123

St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra: 532

Mary Immaculate College, Limerick: 539

Hibernia College (On-line): 515

The intake into the Colleges of Education in future years will continue to be kept under review by my Department to ensure that there is an adequate supply of teachers. The Deputy will be aware that for the intake to the 2008 post graduate diploma in education (for primary teaching) my Department approved an additional 210 places in addition to the 2007/08 figure of 299 places.