Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1112. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if there is a requirement for candidates applying for a staff position in a school (details supplied) to have a religious certificate; if such a requirement is preventing the full cohort of staff being recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40959/22]
View answerThe recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). It is the responsibility of the Board of Management to ensure they comply with all rules and regulations in relation to recruitment.
Chapter 2 of Circular 44/2019 deals with the recruitment of teachers in Primary & Special School. Section 3 of this Chapter sets out the "Minimum Requirements For Employment As A Teacher".
3.1 Each employer shall ensure that each person proposed for appointment to a teaching post which is paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
a) Is registered with the Teaching Council for the sector and
b) Has qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which he/she is to be employed.
Under 11 Criteria of Assessment care must be taken to ensure that the criteria do not lead to discrimination on the grounds set out in Section 6(2) of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998-2008 i.e., gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and member of the Travelling Community.
