Vol. 520 No. 4
259 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the need for a hot line or dedicated person to deal with queries in relation to teacher qualifications in view of the fact that delays in establishing a teacher's status can add unnecessarily to the burden of attracting teachers, particularly in Border regions. [16067/00]
Queries on teacher qualifications at primary level and second level are currently dealt with by the primary administration section or the post-primary teachers' section of my Department, as appropriate. Both of these sections are located in my Department's offices in Athlone. There are staff within these sections who deal with such queries and I do not see the need for a hot line to complement the work of the sections.
Teachers wishing to apply for recognition at primary level in this State are required to submit certain documentation to primary administration section so that my Department can properly assess their qualifications. Delays in processing such applications can be caused by insufficient information being supplied to my Department, which results in my Department requesting further information from the applicant.
At second level, the registration council is a statutorily constituted body which prescribes the conditions for registration as a secondary teacher, including the conditions relating to qualifications. The qualification requirements for the purposes of teaching in vocational, community and comprehensive schools are determined by my Department. Applications for recognition of a particular qualification must be submitted to the secretariat of the registration council or my Department, as appropriate. Assuming that adequate information is submitted, an assessment of the qualification in question is carried out and a decision as to its acceptability is taken as speedily as possible.
I am not aware of a general difficulty with regard to the processing of applications for recognition. However, if the Deputy has a particular case in mind, I will have the matter examined if she submits the relevant details.
