| November Dail Questions | ||
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| Order No. |
124 |
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| Ref No. |
21915|02 |
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| Date: |
14|11|02 |
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| Education and Science: |
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| Priority Question |
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| Question: |
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| Reply: A total of 1,633 students completed the postgraduate course between 1996 and 2002. As outlined, the total intake to the colleges of education in the 2001-02 academic year was increased to a record 1,461. This compares with an intake of 500 in 1996-97. There are some 3,460 students enrolled and pursuing various stages of primary teacher training programmes in the colleges of education. Between 2002 and 2003, it is projected that some 2,700 qualified primary teachers will graduate from the colleges of education. This represents a huge increase in the number of trained graduates compared with 1995 when 291 graduated. My Department is examining the feasibility of providing a modular type course for second level trained teachers teaching in primary schools, who hold the Higher Diploma in Education and the necessary academic requirement in Irish. This proposal will be discussed with the colleges of education in the near future and, if implemented, would enable these teachers to become fully qualified primary teachers. As well as increasing the number of student places in the colleges of education, my Department has introduced a range of initiatives to address the current shortage of qualified teachers. B. Ed. graduates of St. Mary's College, Belfast, who study Irish to honours level as an academic subject are now recognised as fully qualified. In addition, primary degree holders with the Higher Diploma in Education are now paid on the trained salary scale in respect of temporary teaching service. Teachers trained in EU countries are also paid at the trained rate for up to five years pending attainment of the necessary competence in Irish, while teachers trained outside the EU whose qualifications are accepted by my Department are granted the same provisional recognition as EU trained teachers. Furthermore, those who successfully complete the three year Montessori course in St. Nicholas, Dún Laoghaire, that is recognised by the NCEA, and those who attain the Montessori qualification on completion of the three year full time course in the AMI college are recognised as fully qualified for substitute teaching. Such teachers are also fully recognised for teaching service in certain categories of special schools and classes where Irish is not a requirement on the curriculum. Fully qualified teachers trained outside the State are also fully recognised to teach in these categories of schools and classes. I am confident the measures outlined above are contributing significantly to an improvement in the supply of trained primary teachers. I am committed to ensuring the existing shortage of qualified teachers will be eliminated in the next two to three years. Mr. Gogarty: I welcome the steps outlined by the Minister to increase graduate numbers and to enable more qualified primary teachers to come on stream. In view of the Minister's comment that such developments do not happen overnight, is he aware of a report published in December 2000 by the Joint Committee on Education and Science on the availability of teaching staff in primary schools? That report, for which the rapporteur was Deputy Sargent, made 28 recommendations on measures to help ensure an adequate supply of recognised teachers in Irish primary schools. While there has been some movement, such as in relation to Montessori teachers, the INTO requires conversion courses for three year Montessori teachers. Is the Minister aware of recommendation No. 9 with regard to greater availability of conversion courses for graduates or those with teaching experience, using distance learning technology? That would allow people to achieve the required standard on a cost effective basis. Has the Minister considered another recommendation concerning the use of retired staff with specific qualifications, such as music, to fill some of the vacancies? In view of the Minister's recent statement about a special fund for teachers in disadvantaged areas, what are his plans in that regard and in relation to the other recommendations in the report to which I have referred? Mr. N. Dempsey: As the Deputy has recognised, many of the recommendations in the report were implemented or are in the course of implementation. The question of a conversion course is still subject to discussion with unions and has neither been ruled out nor ruled in at this stage. With regard to some of the other suggestions on retired teachers etc, our approach is to try to ensure there are sufficient qualified teachers in all classes over the next two to three years. Our main focus has been on increasing the number of people becoming qualified as primary teachers and that approach will be maintained. If it appears a few years from now that we may not reach the target, other measures will be looked at and the use of retired teachers would be one of the options. Mr. Gogarty: Does the Minister propose to introduce an incentive to ensure the retention of qualified teachers in disadvantaged areas, which tend to have the highest leakage levels? Disadvantaged areas have the highest leakage levels and the proposal for an extra salary allowance would be welcomed. Does the Minister plan to introduce this soon? Mr. N. Dempsey: I do not want to avoid this but there is a question on this subject later. I repeat what I said. There is a problem retaining teachers in disadvantaged areas. We are doing research to see how great the problem is. It needs to be addressed because, as those of us who have teaching experience know, the longer a teacher is in situ the more he or she builds up trust and rapport with children from the area. That is particularly true in a disadvantaged area. I want to something about it. The Deputy will be aware that a forum on disadvantage will be convened next Monday. I am sure that this will be one of the issues it will address. I did not particularly focus on extra pay or extra wages. Mr. Gogarty: Incentives. Mr. N. Dempsey: There are other incentives which can be put in place. The most significant problem faced by teachers in disadvantaged areas is burn-out because of the intensity of the work. Many of the teachers who work in these areas do so out of a sense of vocation and may face burn-out more quickly. I would like to leave the options on incentives as open as possible. |
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| Order No. |
112 |
| Ref No. |
21914|02 |
| Date: |
14|11|02 |
| Education and Science |
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| Priority Question |
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| Question: |
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| Reply: Students who are eligible for means-tested student support will, in addition to any grant they are entitled to, have the €670 charge paid on their behalf, either directly by my Department or through the local authorities and vocational education committees. This means that 34% of students in universities and 47% of students in institutes of technology will not have to pay the charge. The increase in the charge should be viewed in the context of an overall package of measures that I announced earlier this year aimed at increasing and improving the student support schemes for the 2002-03 academic year. In the current financial year the Government will spend over €360 million on student supports, including free fees. It is estimated that the cost per student of providing third level education in the current academic year will exceed €6,000 for arts, law and business courses, €8,000 for science courses and €9,000 for engineering and medicine. The contribution from students has to be seen in light of these figures. As regards free fees, I am conducting a review of student support provisions aimed at ensuring that the benefits of the substantial investment being made are maximised in the context of the Government's objectives of achieving greater access to third level education among lower socio-economic groups. The free fees initiative is being considered in the context of that review. My aim is to ensure that the available funding is targeted in a manner that achieves the maximum impact from the point of view of equity of access to third level education. Mr. Gogarty: I welcome the Minister's statement that any collection of third level fees would be ring-fenced. Does the Minister believe that the introduction of third level fees is the most effective way to create funding for third level, second level and primary education? What does he think of the idea of using some of the special savings incentive scheme, dropping the tax benefits on fee-paying schools or even a ring-fenced income tax? Given the pressures that his Department is facing, would the Minister be willing to suggest these alternatives to the Minister for Finance in advance of the budget although the Estimates have already been produced? Mr. N. Dempsey: All of those types of suggestions are open for consideration in the review which is now being carried out. I have no set view other than the one I have consistently stated, that I do not believe that free fees for the rich who can afford third level education is a reasonable expenditure while so many constituents cannot afford to get near to third level. This is why I am having the review. A number of people have made suggestions for consideration. The Deputy has adverted to some of them. Some newspaper reports have proposed a payment after the completion of the third level course. I am open to any suggestion but it must be on the basis of the envelope of money that I have and that the disadvantaged take priority over those who can already enter the system. Mr. Gogarty: Would the Minister acknowledge that it is a noble principle to have free education for all, other things being equal? Would he acknowledge that over the past five years the higher earners in our society have benefited disproportionately compared to the poor and those who describe themselves as working and middle class? Would he also acknowledge that there is considerable anger among third level students about the possible reintroduction of fees and, with the production of the Estimates, the notable reductions in capital ---- An Ceann Comhairle: It is inappropriate to quote during Question Time. Mr. Gogarty: Is the Minister aware of the anger caused by the leaks about reductions in building projects? Given this anger would he acknowledge that a fairer method of obtaining revenue would be to tackle those who have benefited most over the past five years from Deputy McCreevy's policies through ensuring that the richest pay the most in income tax, while still maintaining the fair and noble principle of free education for all? |
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| Order No. |
0 |
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| Ref No. |
22759|02 |
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| Date: |
20|11|03 |
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| Education and Science: |
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| Oral Question |
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| Question: |
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| Reply: Planning of this audit will take place in the context of the development of a new long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities. Over the past five years grants to the value of €213 million have been allocated to some 2,900 projects under the sport capital programme and it is now timely to consider the impact of these allocations and to formulate a new strategic plan for the provision of such facilities in the future. As the Deputy's question intimates, there are many complex issues to be addressed in structuring the audit such as the standard, size and type of facilities to be recorded and establishing a reliable base on usage patterns. It is intended to set up an inter-agency steering group to plan and oversee the project. This group will be chaired by my Department and will comprise representatives of the Departments of Education and Science, the Environment and Local Government and Health and Children and the Irish Sports Council. There will also be local authority involvement in the project. Mr. Gogarty: I thank the Minister for his reply. Is he aware the first paragraph or two of his reply is basically a rewritten version of an earlier reply? I had asked for some elaboration. What is the time frame for this inter-agency process which would include an audit of sports facilities? Is the Minister aware that until now we have been operating in the dark in terms of planning and development of sports facilities and efficiently managing their use because we do not know exactly what sports facilities we have? Is he aware that in the UK pilot studies have been done by regional and local authorities in which they have been able to pinpoint the location of sports facilities, the requirements for certain sports facilities and, therefore, plan more effectively? Mr. O'Donoghue: Carrying out an effective and comprehensive national audit of local facilities is a major undertaking in terms of complexity and time. For instance, the Sports Council in Northern Ireland is just embarking on a similar exercise and is allowing a period of five years to complete the task. It is a smaller geographical area with a smaller population and an administration where local authorities have been directly involved in the provision of sport and leisure for almost 100 years. The first step would be to appoint a steering group to oversee the development of a long-term strategy for sports facility provision which, in turn, will commence the planning of the audit. I understand a number of local authorities have already become involved in carrying out an inventory of sports facilities in their areas and the Department will closely examine the methodology, standards and parameters used by them. It is not clear yet how successful, comprehensive or accurate these local services are proving to be. I agree with the Deputy that we do not really know precisely what facilities are available at this point. However, over the past five years 2,900 projects have been approved and the total spend has been of the order of €219 million. The sports capital programme for next year has a provision in the region of €60 million. There is no point pretending an audit of this nature will be easy or will be done in a brief period. We must look at the question of the type of facilities we have, their usage and location. We must then seek out deficiencies or lacunae which exist and seek to fill them where possible. If it is to take up to five years to complete a study of this magnitude in Northern Ireland, the probability is that it will take even longer here. Mr. Gogarty: I presume the Minister is aware that such an audit is necessary. Does he intend, through the Irish Sports Council, to ensure all information is provided, including participation levels in schools by age and gender, and participation among the elderly? Will he ensure that we take into account the correlation between a school which has a hockey pitch and the number of hockey clubs in an area so that we can carry out an assessment of need on a geographical basis and provide the most cost effective facilities while acknowledging that participation is what is most important because sport has a benefit which has a knock-on effect on our health care service? Mr. O'Donoghue: User profiles are likely to be addressed in the development of the new strategic plan and in this respect, the Irish Sports Council would be of assistance. The data contained in applications by various clubs and organisations will clearly be of assistance also. Of particular assistance will be the local sports partnerships. There are now 12 local sports partners up and running. It is my intention in the foreseeable future to ensure the concept of local sports partners is spread throughout the country. I hope this will involve a sports co-ordinator in each city and country. Such partners would be at the coal face of activity and would be in a strong position to return to the Department the kind of data the Deputy correctly said should be available. I sincerely hope we are in a position to progress the plan in the near future and that we will gather the necessary data so that we can fill voids where they exist. |
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