Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
296. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education what measures she is taking to allow primary school teachers who have qualified in the UK to more easily qualify to teach in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52565/23]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the Regulations.
In its role as a competent authority, the Teaching Council 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.
Fully qualified teachers who qualify from outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council under the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations.
A fully qualified teacher from outside of the Republic of Ireland must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS/licence to teach) and full registration (having met any post-qualification registration requirements of that country, e.g., teacher induction). All applications from teachers who qualify outside of Ireland are processed in line with EU Directive.
All applications from fully qualified teachers who qualify outside of the Republic of Ireland are assessed for comparability with graduates of Teaching Council accredited programmes of initial teacher education. All primary teachers are registered conditionally with the condition of the Irish Language Requirement.
All post-primary teachers are registered conditionally with the condition of the History and Structure of the Irish Education System. Following a holistic assessment of teaching qualifications and relevant teaching experience, CPD, etc, any identified qualification shortfall(s) are added as a condition of registration. Teachers have three years from the date of conditional registration to address conditions via an aptitude test or an adaptation period.
In addition, for a time limited period under the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment), 2023, the Teaching Council is accepting applications from teachers who hold a teaching licence and comparable teacher education qualification but have not completed induction in the country they qualified. Applications close on 1 February 2024.
A review of the Teaching Council's Qualification Assessment Process for overseas teachers is currently being carried out. Findings from Phase 1 of this review from February to July 2023 showed that the Council have taken a number of very positive steps to make it easier for overseas teachers to register including the redesign of their website with a dedicated 'Qualified outside of Ireland' landing page, enhanced follow up for incomplete applications, removal of requirement for certain documents, expediated approval mechanisms resulting in continued increased efficiencies in the Qualifications Assessment process for teachers who have qualified overseas.
