Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that the teacher education section of his Department has recently decided to amalgamate all science subject national co-ordinators, currently eight, into one national co-ordinator to assist teachers in schools in the development of science related subjects; the way this amalgamation from eight to one post will help secondary schools to develop and encourage science related subjects in view of his objectives under a strategy for science, technology and innovation 2006 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7835/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Individual support services were established between 1999 and 2001 to support teachers following the implementation of changes to the syllabus in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Home Economics. In 2003 an additional support service was put in place to support teachers of Junior Cycle Science. The Physics and Chemistry support services were then integrated into Second Level Support Service. It is the natural life cycle for a post primary syllabus based support service that, following an intensive phase of support, it would move to a maintenance phase within the existing structure in the Second Level Support Service. This has happened previously for other similar services in the period 2006-2008. In a maintenance phase support remains within the system for teachers where necessary.

My Department is currently reviewing the various supports offered to teachers in the context of the resources that are available to me. As part of this exercise, the SLSS is being restructured and other services are folding into its remit. In relation to the sciences specifically, I am mindful of the need to ensure that we continue to make support available. To this end, my Department is examining the ways in which this might be done by leveraging the capacity which currently exists within the sector, thus ensuring that a wide range of support for Science teachers will remain from September 2009.