asked the Minister for Education if he will state the reason for the delay in issuing diplomas to teachers under Rule 172a, and whether such diplomas could be issued within six months of the completion of the two years' probation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Diplomas.
To warrant the award of a training diploma under Rule 172a, a teacher who has undergone a course of training must have served continuously for two years, on probation, in a capacity recognised or approved by my Department, and the reports on his work in respect of these years must he satisfactory.
To arrive at a decision in each case, my Department must have reports from the inspectors during the period of probation, and a report as soon as possible after the close of that period. In some cases, an inspector may not be in a position to furnish the latter report for some little time after the close of the probationary period owing to the demands of his other duties.
In practice, however, there are very few cases in which diplomas have not been awarded where teachers have served for more than six months beyond the period of probation, and no unfavourable report has been received on their work during that period.
Every effort is made by my Department to expedite the award of diplomas in all cases where two years' continuous satisfactory service has been given, and I should be glad if the Deputy would supply me with particulars of any cases which he has in mind to enable me to have them investigated.
I will supply the Minister with the cases.
Will the Minister take steps to see that in case the inspector is not able to visit soon after the probation period and where things are found satisfactory subsequently, the date from which the diploma will operate will be the second anniversary of the date on which the teacher entered the service?
I will look into that but I should like to have particulars of the cases before me first.
Mr. O'Connell
There are such cases.