Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, further to his Parliamentary Questions Nos. 566 and 567 of 20 October 2009, the allocation of €14 million for 600 posts at primary level and 330 posts at post-primary level in 2010 is meeting demographic requirements or if any of the 500 additional teachers committed to in the revised programme for Government are provided for in budget 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47858/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The 2010 Budget provides €26 million to meet the cost of employing extra teachers in our schools in 2010 in line with commitments agreed in the Renewed Programme for Government. Some €12m is being provided in 2010 for the implementation of the Renewed Programme for Government commitment to provide 500 extra teachers over the next three years. This allocation will allow for the employment of an extra 200 teachers starting early 2010 and a further 150 teachers starting in September 2010. Some €14m is being provided in 2010 for the implementation of the Renewed Programme for Government commitment to provide extra teachers from September 2010 for the 2010/11 school year to meet demographic pressures and to ensure no further increase in the pupil-teacher ratio. This allocation will fund 600 posts in primary schools and 330 posts in post-primary schools.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 381: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teacher training places which will be withdrawn as a result of savings in teacher education in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47859/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The level of student intake to the Colleges of Education is determined annually by my Department and it takes account of the supply of, and demand for primary teachers. The post graduate course was introduced as a response to a shortage in the supply of primary teachers. It was first provided in the 1995/96 academic year and has been repeated almost each year since then. The course has not as yet been incorporated as a permanent feature of primary teacher training. The decision to provide further courses is generally made on an annual basis depending on the teacher supply situation. Intake to the two most recent such courses was at a record high of 490 students. On the course commencing February 2010 there will be 200 places.

The intake into the Colleges of Education in future years will continue to be kept under review by my Department to ensure that there is an adequate supply of teachers. The number of places on both the Bachelor of Education and Post Graduate courses in recent years are detailed in the table.

Annual Intake to Colleges of Education