Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 343: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of male and female teachers in primary education in each county; his views of the number of male teachers entering the profession; the steps he is taking to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34040/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that there are more females than males entering the teaching profession and believe that it is important to attract more men into teaching for a number of reasons, not least of which is the positive role models that teachers provide in children's lives and the desirability of having both male and female role models in our schools.

I believe that teaching is an attractive profession for both men and women. Teaching is fulfilling work which makes a huge social contribution. This Government wants to attract and reward the best teachers and has undertaken a number of initiatives to enhance the status of the profession. Not least of these is the establishment of the Teaching Council as a professional regulatory body.

In November 2005 the Report of the Primary Education Committee, 'Males into Primary Teaching' was launched. The Primary Education Committee was established in order to examine a range of issues in relation to males entering primary teaching, and to make recommendations on short-term and long-term strategies to increase the numbers in this regard. The Report draws on the professional insight of key experts in this area as well as drawing on a number of relevant research studies.

One of the key recommendations in this report was that a co-ordinated promotion campaign, which would encourage boys as well as girls to enter primary teaching should be undertaken. This promotion campaign commenced in 2006 and promoted the rewards of being a teacher such as the value to society, work/life balance, career satisfaction, diversity of skills, professional development, conditions of employment and job security.

The number of male and female primary school teachers in each county is not available. In June 2008 the position nationally was 4,838 male and 25,346 female primary school teachers.