Update: Teacher Numbers at Primary and Second Level Schools – Education 8th October, 2014

Uimhir:179

Ceist Pharlaiminte

Chun an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíoctha
To the Minister for Education and Science

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she remains
satisfied regarding the adequacy of teacher numbers at primary and second level
schools throughout the country; if she has received communications from the
various school authorities in this regard; and if she will make a statement on
the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.

* For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 8th October, 2014.
Reference Number: 38451/14

Freagra

Minister Jan O’Sullivan

Teaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. The bulk of
teaching posts in schools are allocated on a permanent basis. Unlike most other
areas of the public service teaching vacancies continue to be filled in
accordance with published Department criteria. The Government has prioritised,
as best as possible, the filling of front-line posts in the Education sector
within the constraints of the Employment Control Framework.
We have a growing population of young people in this country and despite the
difficult financial circumstances we face as a country, we prioritised
education so that the number of teachers we have in the system has also grown
in order to protect pupil teacher ratios. Between this year and last year this
has involved an increase of around 2,300 teachers in our primary and
post-primary schools. This is a very significant investment at a time of scarce
resources.

While there has been a moratorium on recruitment across other sectors in the
public service, this has not applied to teaching and shows the commitment this
Government has to educating our future generations.

The main priority for any additional resources for the foreseeable future will
be to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the
education system.