Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the additional resources she will provide to address the language needs of non-Irish students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6228/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In May 2007, the Minister approved the issuing of Circular 53/2007 to the Managerial Authorities in primary and post primary schools. This circular outlines the resources available to meet the needs of pupils for whom English is a second language. The limit of two Language Support Teachers per school has been removed and the provision of language support has been extended beyond two years, where a specific request is made.

In fact, it is now possible for some schools with over 121 such pupils to have 6 language support teachers. There are now over 1,900 language support teacher posts allocated to primary and post primary schools, compared with just over 260 in 2001/2002.

In addition to the language resource teachers there is a significant amount of resources available including the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment's (NCCA) Guidelines — "Intercultural Education in the Primary School" and "Intercultural Education in the Post- Primary school". The NCCA has also published "English as an Additional Language in Irish Primary Schools". Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT) has produced a resource book "Up and Away" for English language support in primary schools.

IILT in collaboration with the Southern Education and Library Board (in Armagh) published a "Toolkit for diversity in the primary school — Together towards Inclusion". This was a joint North South project. It was completed in December 2007 and is currently being distributed to all schools on the island.

In addition, a language assessment kit, prepared by IILT, will be provided to all primary schools just after Easter. This will enable accurate initial and on-going assessment of the language proficiency of newcomer children. It is proposed to have an assessment kit for post-primary schools available later in the year.

To ensure the language provision is appropriate to meet the needs of newcomer students, the Department has commissioned the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to undertake a large scale study into how an increasing diversity of students impacts upon the resource requirements and day to day teaching and learning in our primary and post-primary schools. Also, the Department's Inspectorate will be carrying out an evaluation on the teaching of English as a second language in Primary and Post Primary schools in 2008/2009. At an international level, Ireland has signed up to be a participant in the OECD's Thematic Review on Migrant Education.

The findings from these three research projects will enable the Department to determine if the additional resources being provided are addressing the language needs of the students for whom English is not their first language.