Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of language support teachers recruited by his Department since 2000 to date in 2008; the number of primary and secondary schools which have a fulltime language support teacher; the number of schools in receipt of part-time language support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36623/08]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Language support teachers are appointed to assist schools in providing additional English language support for pupils for whom English is a second language. There are over 2,000 Language Support Teachers in primary and post- primary schools, at a current cost of approximately €120 million per annum. The number of full- time teaching posts has been increasing as follows:

Numbers are not available for the school year 2000/01.

Currently 672 primary and 167 post- primary schools have been allocated full- time English Language Support Teachers. Schools with less than the 14 such pupils needed to qualify for one support teacher are provided with financial resources to assist them. A total of 377 primary schools and 297 post- primary schools so far this year have received grants to engage part- time English Language Support Teachers.