Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of non-national pupils in primary schools over the past five years; the number at the present time needing English tuition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1687/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Data relating to nationality was collected for the first time in 2007/08 as part of the National School Annual Census. The 2007/2008 data show that there were almost 44,000 non-Irish national pupils in mainstream primary schools. As not all schools had this information available in 2007/2008 data is based on principal's best estimates and therefore figures should be treated as indicative only.

The most recent data available, for the 2010/11 school year, indicates just under 60,000 non-Irish national pupils at primary level (including both mainstream and special primary schools). Statistical information in respect of the current school year is currently being compiled in my Department and is due for publication in September 2012.

Significant support is given to schools by way of language support provision. The level of extra teaching support provided in respect of language support to any school is determined by the numbers of eligible pupils enrolled and the associated assessed levels of those pupils' language proficiency. In the current school year my Department has provided temporary full-time teaching posts in respect of English as an additional language (EAL) to support circa 28,500 such pupils at primary level.

Under the proposed reforms for the coming school year the combined resources available for GAM (General Allocation Model) and language support (currently 4,700 posts) will be used to create a single simplified allocation process to cover both the GAM and language support. Schools will have autonomy on how to deploy the resource between language support and learning support depending on their specific needs.

The new GAM arrangements also provide for additional permanent teaching posts (350) to be given to schools with high concentration of pupils that require language support. Further additional temporary EAL support will also be provided, as necessary, to schools that will have high concentrations of pupils that require language support in the 2012/13 school. These allocations will be made on the basis of appeals by any of these schools to the Staffing Appeals Board.