Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
538. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of guidance counsellors who are currently registered with the Teaching Council as non-teacher guidance counsellors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21180/21]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.
It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a person who has applied under this Act for registration as a teacher.
As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under four routes of registration: Primary, Post-primary, Further Education and Other. In order to be entered on the Register of Teachers, and depending on the route of registration, all registrants are required to hold, or attain within 3 years, a suitable teacher education qualification.
While a registrant may indicate that they hold additional qualifications in the area of Career Guidance, it is not a registration requirement and therefore it is not possible to provide the requested information.
