Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
553. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the efforts being taken to expedite the process where teachers returning home from abroad or travelling to Ireland with the purpose of taking up a position, register with the Teaching Council and receive their requisite number for their employment, given the current shortage of staff required in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27800/23]
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 Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher.
The Teaching Council is also the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications for those who qualified as teachers outside of Ireland. The Teaching Council adheres to the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015, the Teaching Council Registration Regulations (2016) and in its role as a competent authority, it operates in accordance with the EU Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EU as amended). As a statutory professional standards body, the Teaching Council is required by law to properly determine and to authenticate the relevant standards and qualifications of all applicants for registration. One of the ways the Council ensures and regulates standards is by ensuring that all teachers entering the profession in Ireland have met the required standards.
Fully qualified teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council. A person deemed to be a fully qualified teacher has completed a recognised teacher education qualification and programme of induction in the country in which they qualified and can provide an official letter from the relevant teacher registration body/ Competent Authority or Ministry of Education confirming recognition as a fully qualified teacher in the State/ country. The Council registers teachers under four Routes of Registration; Route 1 Primary, Route 2 Post-primary, Route 3 Further Education and Route 4 Other.
All applications from teachers who qualified abroad are processed in line with the EU Directive 2005/36/EC and are assessed in the same manner, regardless of whether they qualified within or outside the EU. The EU Directive provides for the assessment of qualifications for the purposes of recognition, and this recognition may be subject to conditions. The Council assesses qualifications to seek comparability with the standards of Council accredited programmes of ITE (plus curricular subject at PP), assessing in line with programme standards and the Council’s Registration Regulations (Routes 1, 2, 3, 4). This assessment must be ‘holistic’ i.e., take into account qualifications plus teaching experience plus lifelong learning. The Council holds its accredited programmes and student teachers to high standards and to protect the integrity of the register, those who qualify overseas are held to the same standards, (foundation studies, professional studies, school placement). Where differences arise, conditions (qualification shortfalls) will be applied to the teacher's registration and the teacher is given three years to address the shortfall(s).
The EU Directive provides a 12-week timeframe for assessment which commences when all required qualification and registration evidence is submitted. The Council receives an average of 600 applications per year. In Quarter 1, 2023 the average processing time for a Primary overseas qualified application (PRQA-01) from the date that all necessary documents have been received and is deemed complete to decision was 3 weeks. In Quarter 1, 2023 the average processing time for a Post-primary qualified overseas application (PPQA-01) from the date that all necessary documents have been received and is deemed complete to decision was 8 weeks.
In addition to the standard application process for teachers who qualified out of state, the Council commenced the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, 2023 on Wednesday, 22 February, 2023. This regulation was introduced to assist with teacher supply. The Council is accepting applications until 1 February 2024 from primary and post-primary teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland but who have not completed the required period of induction in the country in which they qualified.
This Regulation is being promoted by posting information and videos on Teaching Council social media platforms, promoting on a homepage website banner, sending ezines to registered teachers, targeting teacher educator providers in England directly and via social media, attended in person and online presentations to UK students and by attending a UK careers fair.
