Responding to the news that 22,000 foreign born children have enrolled in Irish schools in the last year, Sinn Féin Education spokesperson Seán Crowe welcomed the growing diversity and multi-ethnic make-up of our schools. But he urged the Minister for Education 'to keep pace with the number of newcomer children enrolling in primary schools by providing adequate numbers of English language support teachers to ensure no child is left behind'. 'While I welcome a recent commitment from Minister Hanafin on this issue, with the recent announcement to increase language support teachers for schools with a considerable number of foreign-born children as pupils, the current situation needs urgent revision,' the Dublin South-West TD said. 'While there is one additional staff member for the first 14 international students in a school, and a second when the number teachers reaches 28, no more language resource teachers are provided whether a school has 29 or 129 international pupils. I am aware some schools have managed to secure three resource teachers; but this is very much on an ad hoc basis. 'At present, students who come to an Irish school from a non-English speaking background are entitled to up to two years English language tuition. However the Department of Education does not take into account that students are coming into Ireland with varying degrees of English. Some may only need a few months of English tuition while others may need more than two years. 'These students should be assessed on a case-by-case basis rather than being subject to a blanket rule. This would actually save language tuition resources and ensure that English language resource teachers are allocated to the students most in need. 'Ensuring all newcomer children receive adequate English language provision will ensure greater communication between students, breaking down barriers between children from different backgrounds, and result in a more productive learning environment. 'I would also call on the government to introduce other English language supports to foreign-born parents where required so they can actively participate in their children's schooling and the school environment.'