Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 673: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to further increase the number of language support teachers from 1,450 to 1,800. [28722/08]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently almost 2,000 English language resource teachers working in our primary and post primary schools at an annual cost of some €120 million. This has risen from 262 teachers in 2001/2002.

The arrangements for enhanced provision of English language resource teachers were set out in a circular from my Department which issued to schools in May 2007.

The previous restriction of two such teachers per school was removed and a two year limit of English language classes for the students was also lifted, where a specific request is made.

In fact, a school with more than 121 pupils with English language needs can now have 6 English language resource teachers.