Thomas Pringle
Question:409. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education whether the Covid Amendment Regulation 2023 will be extended in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11902/24]
View answerWednesday, 20 March 2024
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Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of Teachers in the State.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015. There are five routes of registration with the Teaching Council which are namely Route 1: Primary, Route 2: Post-primary, Route 3: Further Education, Route 4: Other and Route 5: Student Teacher. The registration requirements for each route is set out in the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016.
The Teaching Council has a statutory remit and there is a provision in the legislation which allows them to make regulations for the purposes of registration.
Statutory Instrument No. 12 of 2023, the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation, which was in place has now expired and therefore the facility is no longer open. In the context of the Council's legislative remit, this provision was put in place via a Statutory Instrument (SI), and as such, the SI defines the period during which the measure is operated.
A further Statutory Instrument would be required to establish the Teaching Council (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation for a longer period, which under the Teaching Council Act is a matter for the Council.
Since the 1st of February 2024, applicants for registration who qualified out of state will be required to apply for registration under the standard application process for out of state qualified teachers. They will be required to provide evidence of being a fully qualified teacher, including evidence of having completed induction in the country of qualification.
Through engagement with the Council on this matter, I can advise that the Council is considering any further amendment to provide for this facility (that is, completion of induction in Ireland for overseas qualified teachers) in the context of its legislative framework, including relevant EU legislation.