Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the breakdown of the in-service education programmes available in the years since 2000 to date in 2008; the breakdown of in-service programmes to be provided in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36618/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has provided continuing professional development (CPD) across a range of subjects and programmes at primary and post primary level in the period referred to. This has been delivered by subject specific support services and administered and delivered through the education centre network. Throughout this period support services have developed as their remit dictated from an intensive to a maintenance phase of support.

September 2008 saw significant changes at primary and post primary level in the delivery of continuing professional development for a number of subject areas. The History, Geography, Maths, Religious Education and Junior Science support services have entered a maintenance phase of support and a reduced team in each of the areas has been incorporated into the Second Level Support Service. However, support has increased at post primary level for Gaeilge and also the Project Maths initiative has commenced.

At primary level the two largest service providers (Primary Curriculum Support Programme and School Development Planning Service) have amalgamated from September 08. The Primary Professional Development Service (PPDS) has commenced provision of support to primary schools and will aim to provide a more coherent service.

Over the course of the period referred to a number of new initiatives and Government priorities have emerged. My Department has responded with support in the areas of special education, literacy and numeracy, child protection, Irish language, standardised testing, English as an additional language support for immigrant children, delivering equality of opportunity in schools (DEIS), bullying, social personal and health education (SPHE), relationship and sexuality education amongst others.

The provision for teacher in-service education support is €28.8m, compared with a 2008 estimate of €33.8m. It is intended to reduce teacher secondments to in-service and, while it will be possible to continue to provide a wide range of services to teachers, the reduced allocation will mean that programmes that are not in an expansionary or prioritised phase will have to be curtailed to a degree.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers who have participated in in-service education programmes each year since 2000 to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36619/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is not readily available at this point in time but will be made available to the Deputy in the coming weeks.