Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date with the survey undertaken by the Teaching Council on the qualifications of staff teaching mathematics; the number of schools requested to participate in the survey; the number that responded; when he expects to receive a report from the Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37348/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The results of the Maths Teaching Survey conducted by the Teaching Council have been received by my Department.

The results provide a good overview of the current situation in schools. All post primary schools were requested to participate in the survey and there were 422 valid responses. The results of the survey shows that 66.4% of maths teachers are fully qualified to do so, 31.1% have undergone some studies in maths and only 2.5% of teachers teaching maths have no third level qualification/studies in maths. These results are consistent with and underpin the earlier data published on the 12 September last, and they help us to get a clearer picture of what is actually happening in schools and to plan to meet the training needs of teachers. The survey is now complete.

Minister Sherlock announced on September 12 proposals to introduce a course for teachers of Mathematics who may not have a qualification in the subject to upskill to the recognised levels. The competition to identify providers of the course is about to go to the market and an outcome is expected early in the New Year.

The Deputy may wish also to note that the Council is shortly due to publish a consultation document setting out proposed revised degree entry requirements for post-primary post graduate initial teacher education programmes relating to the teaching of 35 curricular subjects. The revised requirements will include the subject of mathematics.