Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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315. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the concerns in the mid-west that the support for the reading recovery programme provided through a college (details supplied) may be reduced from September 2017; if he will ensure that these schools can continue to provide the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19413/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department, through the teacher support services and education centres, engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of CPD through secondment from their schools. Having teachers with relevant and recent teaching experience and expertise is a key requirement for the role. It is a condition therefore that the maximum length of time that a teacher may be on secondment is five years, following which they return to their teaching roles within their schools. A limited alleviation of the application of the five year limit has been agreed to allow a small number of seconded personnel to serve for a further limited period.

In line with this policy, the term of secondment for the present Teacher Leader in Limerick has now ended. 

My Department, through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) has put plans in place to ensure that all schools currently participating in the programme, continue to do so for the coming school year. All newly identified DEIS schools from September 2017 will also be afforded the opportunity to access the programme in September.

Arrangements to recruit a Teacher Leader for Limerick Education Centre are also being finalised. The successful candidate will undergo training from September 2017 with a view to taking up the full time seconded post from September 2018.