John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the professional development service for teachers support service is compensating the education centres in the country adequately for hosting and providing in-service for the programme; if he is satisfied that teachers are receiving a high standard of continuous professional development through the use of PDST; the evidence of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16802/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) was established in September 2010, following a reconfiguration of the support services in existence prior to that date. 2011 is the first full year of operation of the PDST. In allocating budgets to education centres for the administration of PDST strands my Department aims to ensure that the funding allocated is commensurate with the level of activity, and there is ongoing communication between the education centres, PDST and my officials in this regard.

The aim of the continuing professional development (CPD) provided by all support services is to enhance and maintain the quality of teaching and learning in our schools. In designing its CPD programmes, the PDST, which is staffed by expert practitioners, consults as appropriate with other experts in the area of educational provision such as the Inspectorate of my Department, and external bodies such as the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment etc. The Department's primary means of gathering evidence about quality and evaluating the effectiveness of teaching and learning is the inspection process in schools. The reports of my Department's inspectorate informs CPD planning on an ongoing basis. In addition, feedback from participants at in-service events is collected and this serves as evidence of quality as well as in informing the development of future provision.

In the coming school year, the PDST will play a key role in the implementation of the national literacy and numeracy strategy. I am satisfied that the PDST provides high quality continuing professional development for teachers and will continue to do so.