Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Feb 2001

Vol. 529 No. 3

Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.

John Bruton

Question:

156 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm the accuracy of correspondence which states that a person (details supplied) has full recognition as a primary teacher and is eligible for and entitled to permanent full time employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2832/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

To be fully recognised to teach at primary level, teachers must have undertaken a recognised primary teaching training course and possess a recognised primary teaching qualification. Such a qualification can usually be achieved by a person graduating from one of the recognised teacher training courses in the colleges of education, including the postgraduate conversion courses, or by a primary teacher trained abroad achieving the necessary level of competence in the Irish language.

While the person referred to by the Deputy is a qualified second level teacher, her qualifications, as is the case with all persons similarly qualified, are not accepted for the purpose of recognition to teach in a permanent capacity in primary schools.

However, as part of a range of measures taken by my Department to address the shortage of qualified teachers at primary level, qualified second level teachers are remunerated at the trained rate of pay when they take up substitute or temporary positions in primary schools. Previous service given by such teachers in second level schools will be reckoned for incremental purposes. In making that change it was never the intention that qualified second level teachers would be afforded full recognition as primary school teachers and allowed to take up primary teaching posts on a permanent basis. To become so qualified, such teachers would have to undertake a postgraduate conversion course in one of the colleges of education.

Regrettably, the letter referred to by the Deputy, issued in 1999, incorrectly stated that the person in question had been given full recognition as a primary teacher. The intention was to convey to her that if she served in a substitute or temporary capacity in primary schools her post-primary teacher qualifications would be reckoned for remuneration purposes and that consequently for such service she would be remunerated at the same rate of pay as a fully trained primary teacher