Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teaching hours of English language support, for pupils whose first language is not English, that is being provided in primary schools and post-primary schools; the cost to her Department for this service in each year over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15800/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of children in the Irish education system receiving English language support; the number of teachers involved in this work exclusively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15801/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together.

It is estimated that in the region of 28,000 children benefit from English language support education. The majority of English language teaching posts are allocated on the basis of full-time posts rather than teaching hours. I have already allocated almost 2,000 language support teachers in the current school year. The corresponding figures for the 2006/07 and 2005/06 school years are approximately over 1,400 and over 800 respectively. Additional supports are provided for children in schools who do not meet the qualifying criteria for the appointment of full-time teachers in the form of grant aids for the employment of part-time English language support teachers. 469 schools have benefited from this type of financial support in the current school year.

The total cost of providing English language support to children in our primary and post primary schools is estimated to be in the region of €126 million in the current school year. The corresponding estimated costs for the 2006/07 and 2005/06 school years are in the region of €91 million and €52 million.

The substantial increase in the number of language support teachers underlines the important improvements made in this area in recent years. The previous limit of two teachers per primary school and the limit of two years' support to an individual pupil was changed. An individual primary school may now be allocated up to six language support posts under the improved arrangements in place. In order to ensure that schools can accurately and objectively assess the language requirement of children, my Department will be sending to schools assessment materials which have been developed by Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT). The assessment materials will enable schools to ensure that the specific language requirements of children needing support are met in a targeted way. The IILT materials will also enable accurate initial and on-going assessment of the language proficiency of the child and his or her need for continued language support.