Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the annual cost of providing the professional development service for teachers. [14449/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Professional Development Service for Teachers was established in 2010 following a reconfiguration of my Department's support services for schools. The total estimated cost of the service in 2011 is €14.9 million, of which the salaries of the seconded teachers who work in the service are the single largest cost item, at approximately €5.3 million. The balance of costs, an estimated €9.6 million, relates to the main programmes of support provided across a range of services such as DEIS and literacy and numeracy supports, leadership and planning supports, regionally based generic services and other national priority areas. The €9.6 million includes the cost of providing these supports such as venue costs, travel costs for participating teachers, course materials, resources, web presence and general administration and equipment. Some €1.1 million relates to travel and subsistence costs for the PDST team of seconded teachers.