To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers are expected to be employed in (a) primary and (b) post-primary schools in Northern Ireland in each of the next 10 years, including annual percentage changes in each school sector. [120942]
The Department does not project pupil teacher ratios. Accordingly figures on the number of teachers expected to be employed in each of the next 10 years are not available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children are expected to attend (a) primary and (b) post-primary schools in Northern Ireland for each of the next 10 years, including annual percentage changes in each school sector. [120949]
Projected figures are available only up to 2008–09. These are as follows:
| Post-primary schools | |||
| Primary schools | Grammar | Secondary | |
| 2003–04 | 171,500 | 63,000 | 89,900 |
| Change1 | -1.5 | -0.2 | -3.0 |
| 2004–05 | 169,100 | 63,000 | 87,600 |
| Change1 | -1.4 | 0 | -2.6 |
| 2005–06 | 166,400 | 63,000 | 85,600 |
| Change1 | -1.6 | 0 | -2.3 |
| 2006–07 | 163,000 | 62,900 | 83,500 |
| Change1 | -1.6 | -0.2 | -2.5 |
| 2007–08 | 161,500 | 63,000 | 81,000 |
| Change1 | -1.4 | 0.2 | -3 |
| 2008–09 | 158,200 | 63,000 | 79,700 |
| Change1 | -2 | 0 | -1.6 |
| 1 Percentage from previous year | |||
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason parents are not represented on the Costello working group on post-primary education; and if he will make a statement. [120946]
The Department of Education gathered parents' views on the Burns' Report through response forms issued to every household in Northern Ireland and further consulted parents on the way forward through a series of focus groups. The clear message from the focus groups was that parents were satisfied that extensive consultation had taken place and the Department should proceed with developing proposals based on the emerging consensus. The Working Group comprises the main representative organisations and managing authorities that will be responsible for developing and implementing future arrangements and has been charged with taking account of the responses to the consultation on the Burns' Report and providing advice on options for future arrangements for post-primary education, with disabilities.