Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 September 2021
264. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Education the number of applications pending for registration with the Teaching Council; the number of unqualified teachers who were paid by her Department at primary and secondary level in recent weeks; if credit scores regarding degrees only apply to graduates post-2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47368/21]
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.
The figures they have provided show that there were approximately 1,279 applications for registration at various stages of processing at close of business Friday 24 September 2021.
The breakdown was as follows:
1. 115 received and queued for processing.
2. 303 in progress.
3. 674 awaiting missing documentation from applicant (to note, as advised in the Teaching Council information for registration, processing of the application cannot commence until all documentation is received).
4. 150 awaiting Garda vetting.
5. 37 final registration pending.
The Teaching Council inform me that this data is dynamic and subject to ongoing change.
The information that the Deputy requires in relation to the number of unqualified teachers who were paid by my Department at primary and secondary level in recent weeks, is not readily available. My officials will compile this information and provide it to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
The Teaching Council is responsible for the maintenance of the Register of Teachers in Ireland as set out in the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 in line with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations (SI 444). The Schedule in the Regulations sets out the qualifications required for registration under four routes of registration; Primary, Post-primary, Further Education and Route 4 Other. The qualification requirements are expressed in European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) which represent learning based on defined learning outcomes and their associated workload. This is the international standard adopted across Europe by Higher Education Institutions ensuring the increased consistency and transparency of qualifications. Applicants for registration are required to hold (or gain) an accredited teacher education qualifications (TEQ) appropriate to their route of registration. In addition applicants for registration under Route 2 Post-primary are required to hold to appropriate qualification in a post-primary curricular subject. All requirements are expressed in ECTS credits. Where a qualification pre-dates the introduction of ECTS, the relevant Higher Education Institution is generally able to provide a statement of equivalency. The Registration Regulations 2016 apply to all teachers who are currently applying for registration irrespective of date of qualification.
Under section 30 of the Teaching Council Acts, a teacher in a recognised school is required to be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from Oireachtas-voted funds.
Where a registered teacher is not available SI 32/2014 enables a school managerial authority to employ a person who is not registered as a teacher for up to five consecutive days.
