Teaching Council

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2012

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Questions (8)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

8Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has recovered the funding, some €5 to €6 million, given by the last Government to set up the Teaching Council; if his attention has been drawn to the anger among teachers of having to pay this fee and their criticisms of this organisation which is collecting approximately €5 million annually from teachers and in view of plans in England to disband their Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10012/12]

Oral answers (7 contributions)

Deputy Ruairí Quinn

It is essential there is in place a robust system of regulation for the teaching profession. The Teaching Council's role is key to ensuring the development and implementation of standards for teachers' conduct and performance, which complements the work of initial and continuing teacher training. Much progress has been made by the council, as reports placed before the House illustrate.

The annual registration fee of €90 is significantly lower than registration fees charged by many other professional regulatory bodies. Moreover, tax relief may be sought from the Revenue Commissioners with regard to the fee. The funding advanced to the council prior to 2008 was to enable it to establish and run its operations and there are no plans to recoup this funding. When the remaining sections of the legislation are commenced, the council's income will be more fully utilised. In view of the importance of having a strong regulator for the teaching profession, I do not have any intention of disbanding the Teaching Council.

Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan

I cannot believe it, given what the Minister's counterpart in England is doing and the latter's description of the General Teaching Council for England as a quango that must be scrapped. I will make a single point to the Minister, which is that the Teaching Council's biggest activity last year appears to have been to seek a 20% increase in salary for its retiring director to increase her lump sum and pension. At the same time, however, a teacher who only teaches for two hours each week must pay €90 and young people emerging from the training colleges and universities are unable to get an interview without paying €90 but have no guarantee of getting a job. I have yet to meet a teacher who thinks this constitutes good use of his or her €90.

Deputy Ruairí Quinn

The Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 has passed through the other House and if memory serves me correctly, it will be introduced to this House next week at which time Members will have an opportunity to discuss this issue. I share the Deputy's concerns because many professional bodies, including my own, namely, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland, have different rates of contribution for those who are unemployed, work part-time or are retired. However, the commencement of section 30, which is what the aforementioned Bill will do, will enable the Teaching Council to act as a professional body in a way that it has not been able to do previously. I certainly do not regard the Teaching Council as a quango and the Secretary of State for Education in the United Kingdom was wrong in abolishing its equivalent.

Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan

Obviously, I am disappointed by the Minister's response. Teachers are in favour of being regulated and have no problem in this regard but this Teaching Council certainly has not shown itself to be professional in the few years since its establishment. Moreover, it is taking in approximately €5 million per year and the Minister could seek to recoup the initial advance of €5 million, which could go into a great many other services that are vitally needed in education.

Deputy Ruairí Quinn

If the Teaching Council wishes to give back €5 million, I would take it in the morning.

Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan

The Minister should demand it.

Deputy Ruairí Quinn

A new Teaching Council is to be established in the near future, by the end of March if memory serves, and as the Deputy is aware, the teaching unions and representatives have a say in the council's composition. If there is dissatisfaction with the manner in which the council has performed to date, the remedy is in the hands of those teachers who choose to exercise their vote or persuade their national executives to renew the composition of the council.