Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2024
251. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will instruct the Teaching Council to work with a person (details supplied) to ensure that they can complete a part-time course for a full post-primary qualification, informing them whether a course is relevant prior to their enrolment and ensure that they can continue to teach. [4728/24]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for registering teachers in Ireland. 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 has advised that the person that the Deputy is referring to in the query currently has conditional registration with the Council and is aware of the requirement to address those conditions in order to achieve full registration, and the required timeframe. If the applicant has not addressed those conditions within the timeframe specified they can apply for an extension of time to meet the condition. Details on how to apply for an extension are available on the Teaching Council website at www.teachingcouncil.ie/register/registration-with-conditions/application-for-an-extension-to-a-period-of-conditional-registration/#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20unable%20to,to%20the%20condition%20expiry%20date
As noted, the Teaching Council is the Statutory body with responsibility for registration, including assessing qualifications, and establishing registration requirements under the different routes. My Department does not have a direct role in individual applications.
The Council has informed me that the person referred to does not currently meet the qualification requirements as set out for the Route of registration being sought. The candidate is aware of this.
I understand from the correspondence that this person is seeking to complete a part-time programme which will allow them to qualify as a post primary teacher of Home Economics. Currently there is no accredited part-time qualification available. The applicant may wish to contact the institutions providing accredited programmes for home economics, which includes St Angela's in Sligo, University College Cork and Mary Immaculate College Limerick, to discuss with them the possibility of recognition of their prior learning, as it is a matter for each individual institution to determine how this will apply in the context of the programme in question.
