Written answers

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Department of Education and Science

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

9:00 am

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional teachers she expects to provide in the primary school sector taking into account the continuing increase in pupil numbers; her views on the fact that a number of young persons went to training college on the understanding and anticipation that they would get employment in a situation where education is deemed to be one of our strongest assets and yet they see temporary posts being filled by non trained personnel or retired teachers; her views that such a situation is unfair to those who were encouraged into training and the action she will take to ensure this practice is curtailed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41087/10]

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 90: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will rule out any reduction in teaching posts in budget 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41264/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 90 together.

Pupil numbers at both primary and post-primary level continue to increase. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. In terms of the position at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department is the pupil enrolment at the 30 September of each year. Unlike other areas of the public service schools can continue to fill these teaching posts in the normal manner. While the primary staffing schedule allocates on the basis of an average number of pupils each individual school decides on how to arrange its classes. The Government is currently working on the estimates process for December's budget. We will also be setting out in some detail our budgetary plans for the next 4 years. It is only by taking the difficult decisions now that we can ensure that our economy returns to growth again. This will put the delivery of our public services on a more sustainable basis rather than on our current reliance on borrowed money. My Department cannot give any guarantees in relation to budgetary impacts on education. Clearly, my Department as one of the large spending Departments will have to play its part in the budgetary process. However, as a Government we will be doing our best to minimise the impact for front-line public services. In relation to the issue of employment of newly qualified teachers, my Department recently issued a reminder to school authorities calling on schools to give priority to newly or recently qualified teachers when making appointments for periods of substitution and other temporary appointments. It is the policy of my Department that only qualified personnel should be employed by schools. Circular 40/2010, which issued earlier this year, directs schools to ensure that teachers proposed for appointment to publicly paid teaching posts are registered with the Teaching Council and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are proposed. Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, which has not yet been commenced, provides that only registered teachers can be remunerated out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. While it is still the aim of the Minister that all teachers in schools be registered with the Council (and therefore fully qualified), it is apparent that to commence Section 30 as it stands could have a serious negative impact for a small number of schools where, in specific circumstances, unqualified personnel are required in the short term. Section 12 of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 is necessary for the amendment of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act to allow for the employment, only in certain exceptional and limited circumstances, of persons who are not registered teachers under the Act.

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