Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of vacancies for language teachers throughout the State; the schools in which same are located; the language subject for the position advertised; her views on the shortage of language teachers; and her plans to rectify this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39515/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school management annually and are available on the Department website.In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.

As education at post-primary level is on the basis of subjects, the situation is complex and therefore difficult to predict and plan for. Post-primary teachers are generally qualified to teach more than one subject but may not be deployed to teach these in equal measures at school level. School management authorities have the flexibility to deploy teachers to meet demands. Schools are also responsible for deciding what subjects and programmes to offer and this can vary from school to school in accordance with local need. This in turn, determines the type of teacher competencies/specialisms required. While the numbers of PDE (formerly the H.Dip) places have remained fairly constant over recent years, there can be particular subjects which, over time, become more or less in demand and this can lead to a surplus or deficit of teachers of that discipline.

While teaching posts funded by the state continue to increase I understand that there are newly qualified teachers not yet holding teaching positions in schools. The selection processes required of schools, and the commencement of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act last January depend on there being a supply of suitable individuals within the marketplace.

The Teaching Council, the professional standards body for teachers, is currently working to provide me with advice on the matter of teacher supply with the overall goal of ensuring that there is timely information to inform the system generally and for planning in my Department. I expect to receive an initial report from the Teaching Council later this year and a final report in 2015. The Teaching Council also intends to establish a Consultative Forum for stakeholders which will offer advice and feedback on proposals developed by its Technical Working Group on this matter.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).

The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of teaching and learning are in the first instance a matter for the school management authorities.