Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has rejected the implication that there will be political interference in the appointment of additional language support teachers in primary schools.
Listen to Batt O'Keefe's comments to Education Correspondent Emma O Kelly at lunchtime this afternoon
The Minister was commenting after figures compiled by school principals in one Dublin suburb showed potential dramatic losses in language teacher numbers.
The Budget placed a cap of two on the number of Language Support Teachers available to schools, but the Minister promised what he called alleviation for schools with a significant concentration of newcomer pupils.
He said this would be allocated on a case-by-case basis.
Teachers have expressed concern that this could lead to croneyism and political favouritism in the allocation of teachers over and above the cap.
They have called for an open and transparent mechanism.
Minister O'Keeffe said his department was currently drawing up parameters for the allocation of language teachers, based on the needs of children and schools, and he said there would be no political interference.
He said a first draft was prepared and a circular would be sent out to schools in the coming weeks.
However, a subsequent clarifying statement from the Department says the circular will simply outline the Budget changes.
Language teaching cuts criticised
Primary school principals in a Dublin suburb say work to integrate the children of immigrants could be destroyed if the Government cuts the number of English language teachers.
Principals in Dublin 15 have compiled figures that show the number of teachers in the area could be as much as halved as a result of the measure.
One in five primary school pupils in Dublin 15 is receiving language assistance.
Eight schools in the area that currently have six language teachers could have that number reduced to just two.
Eight more schools with five teachers fear they could lose three of those posts.
