Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2012
77. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the General Teachers’ Council of Ireland does not automatically recognise universities in the Six Counties as offering approved teacher training courses including colleges such as St. Mary's University College, Belfast, which are globally recognised for their standards of excellence in teacher training. [48835/12]
View answer78. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the paperwork the General Teachers’ Council of Ireland require when assessing degree holders who hold a B.Ed (Hons), from a teaching college in the North and who are applying to be registered teachers in the 26 Counties. [48836/12]
View answer79. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the co operation that exists between the General Teachers’ Council of Ireland and the General Teachers’ Council, Northern Ireland and if there are set protocols in place to deal with applications for teachers attempting to register in either jurisdiction. [48837/12]
View answer80. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that the cost of assessment of qualifications with the General Teachers’ Council of Ireland for a teacher registering from the North is €290; his views on whether is this an excessive amount to be paid by Irish nationals who have attended an Irish University in the Six Counties. [48838/12]
View answer81. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the general Teachers’ Council of Ireland view qualifications obtained from St. Mary's Teaching College, Belfast of adequate standard to qualify for teaching in the 26 counties. [48839/12]
View answer82. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures the General Teachers’ Council of Ireland implement when checking a teaching applicant from the North of Ireland; if they communicate directly with their counterparts in the North to ascertain their qualifications, experience and references; the average turnaround for processing such applications and the efforts that are being made to ensure enhanced cooperation between the GTCI and the General Teachers Council of Northern Ireland. [48840/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 82, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, An Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta, The Teaching Council, was established on a statutory basis in March 2006 under the terms of the Teaching Council Act 2001. As the regulatory body for the teaching profession in this State, it carries out a similar role to that of the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI). Among the statutory functions of the Council are the maintenance of a Register of Teachers, the operation of a process for determining suitability for entry onto that Register and the review & accreditation of programmes of initial teacher education.
While the Council's remit is as regulator in this State, it automatically recognises the qualifications of graduates of a number of teacher education programmes in Northern Ireland. These include the Bachelor of Education - Primary (Irish Studies), the Primary PGCE (Irish Medium) from St. Mary's Belfast and the Post-primary PGCE from University of Ulster.
As provided for in the Teaching Council Act the Council works closely with my Department in collaborating with the General Teaching Council of Northern Ireland on areas of mutual interest. The cost to potential registrants of assessment of their qualifications reflects the Council's need to give full consideration to each application on its own merits. Details of the application process for recognition of qualifications from outside the State are set out on the Teaching Council's website and the Council will assist applicants with this process should they wish to seek the advice of the Council directly.
Matters in relation to teacher qualifications on the island are under discussion at the North South Ministerial Council and between the two Councils at present. The Councils have been requested to review current arrangements and advise on measures that will simplify current procedures and facilitate mobility having regard to the different policy contexts in both parts of the island.
