Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
662. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education if she plans to visit to United Arab Emirates in order to attract Irish-trained school teachers that are based there to return home and work in the Irish education system. [38297/23]
View answerI have no plans to visit the United Arab Emirates in order to attract Irish trained school teachers that are based there to return home and work in the Irish education system.
A number of measures are in place to support teachers who are qualified abroad and those who are working abroad to work in Ireland. These include:
• Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who qualify outside Ireland may complete induction (Droichead) in Ireland. Teachers must apply no later than 1 February 2024 to be eligible. This measure seeks to enhance the supply of NQTs available to schools and is particularly relevant for Irish teachers who have studied and qualified abroad and who may wish to return to the Irish education sector.
• The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers in respect of previous service in countries such as the UAE is outlined in Circulars 10/2001 for primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for post primary teachers. An award of incremental credit is made to teachers who satisfy the criteria in those circulars. This was agreed in the first instance by the Teacher Conciliation Council. This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.
• Following on from the Department’s Action Plan on Teacher Supply, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) operates an online portal for the recruitment of teachers to long-term teaching positions. The portal facilitates the matching of demand and supply and provides an efficient and user-friendly recruitment process for both schools and teachers, including teachers working abroad who wish to apply for posts here.
• Turas Abhaile is an initiative of the post-primary school management bodies and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) which has assisted teachers based abroad to return teach in Ireland since September 2019. Turas Abhaile matches teachers with specific vacancies and participating schools facilitate online interviews to suit the preferences of candidates.
In addition to the above measures, the Teaching Transforms campaign promotes the teaching profession and encourages students to follow a career in teaching. The campaign is supported by a dedicated webpage, which includes useful information for teachers seeking to return to work in Ireland or who have qualified outside the State (www.gov.ie/teachingtransforms).
