Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to relax the public service embargo to employ qualified mathematics teachers when it is shown that schools are not adequately resourced to teach higher level mathematics; if not, the arrangements that will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25206/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Teaching Council has recently carried out a survey of post-primary schools to ascertain the qualifications of maths teachers. The results of the survey shows that a significant majority, 68%, of teachers teaching maths in 258 schools are fully qualified to do so, that 29% have undergone some studies in maths and only 2% have no third level qualifications/studies in maths.

The Teaching Council has now asked schools which have not completed the earlier survey to do so by 26th September.

Providing for high quality teaching and learning of mathematics is of key strategic importance to the State. As part of the Government's overall strategy to improve the teaching and learning of maths in schools, my Department is currently making arrangements for the provision of a new training programme for maths teachers. It will provide unqualified maths teachers with the opportunity to upskill their knowledge of mathematics and study the strategies best suited to the new Project Maths syllabuses.

Despite the current restrictions on recruitment to the public sector, teacher vacancies are continuing to be filled. Recruitment of teachers is a matter for individual schools and schools have been directed by my Department, as far as practicable, to appoint only appropriately qualified and registered teachers.

The appointment and deployment of teachers within schools is also a matter for schools themselves.