Tom Enright
Question:448 Mr. Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of people in primary teaching who do not have a recognised national school teaching qualification and who have provided over ten years' service. [10956/00]
Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.
Teachers in primary schools are employed by the managerial authority of the school.
Boards must make every effort including advertising in a national newspaper to obtain the services of a qualified teacher for appointment to a temporary or permanent post. My Department must be satisfied that every effort is made to obtain a fully qualified teacher for a post before an untrained person is appointed and such appointments are generally for short periods.
Boards of management are also obliged to make every effort to obtain the services of fully qualified substitute teachers.
I am aware that there are persons who have served in a substitute capacity for a number of years who do not have a recognised primary teaching qualification. The details requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of such people who have more than ten years service will be compiled and forwarded directly to him.