Brendan Griffin
Question:324 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18372/12]
View answerWednesday, 18 April 2012
Questions (327)
Written answers
I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy is employed by Kerry VEC. As set out in this House last October, each person appointed to a recognised teaching post should be registered with the Teaching Council, and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which s/he is to be employed. However, from the information supplied, it appears that the individual referred to by the Deputy may not be employed in such a teaching post. The Teaching Council's regulations are set out on its website and currently require a person who wishes to register as a post primary teacher in the VEC sector to have a minimum standard of a degree or its equivalent. From 1 April 2013, a person applying to be entered on the register as a teacher in a VEC school will also need a qualification in post primary teacher education as set out in Regulation Four. With effect from the same date, a person applying to be entered on the register as a teacher in the further education sector must have attained a Council approved further education teacher education qualification in accordance with Regulation Five. The recognition of teacher qualifications in this State is now a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in individual cases. The matter should be taken up with the employer, Kerry VEC in this case, who is responsible for the terms and conditions of employment and may also be taken up directly with the Teaching Council.