asked the Minister for Education the qualifications which are required for permanent wholetime appointment as a teacher of religion in vocational education committee schools; if any of these qualifications were introduced since 1979; if so, when and which third level institutions offer these courses; if any teachers of religion were made permanent without having the specified qualifications; if so, the number and the ways in which their qualification were deemed deficient; the level to which the second (secular) subject must be taken (Memo V7 of his Department, paragraph 5 i.e. does not specify the level sought and accepted); if it must be taken to degree level the way in which it is envisaged that degree level would be attained in the course in the teaching of English for those teachers of religion who lacked a recognised qualification in a second (secular) subject held in Thomond College, Limerick, from 27 June 1984 to 20 July 1984; the number of teachers who attended that course; and if they all have been appointed on a permanent wholetime basis.
Written Answers. - Religious Education Teachers.
The qualifications required for appointment of permanent wholetime teaching posts as teachers of religious education under a Vocational Education Committee are as follows:
(a) 1. The Diploma in Religious Education of the Mater Dei Institute following the completion of a three-year course; or
2. The Diploma in Religious Education of the Institute of Religious Education, Mount Oliver, Dundalk, obtained following the completion of a three-year course in theology at a recognised theological centre; or
3. The BD degree of a recognised degree — awarding authority; or
4. The BA (Theol) degree awarded by the Pontifical University, Maynooth; or
5. The Bachelor in Religious Science degree awarded by St. Patrick's College. Maynooth, to students of the Mater Dei Institute; and
(b) An acceptable qualification in another subject of the School Programme, this does not apply to No. 5 above; and
(c) An Ceard Teastas Gaeilge of the Department; or
(d) A qualification deemed to be equivalent to the listed qualifications.
Graduates from the four-year degree course conducted in the Mater Dei Institute were first conferred in 1980 and the BA (Theol) degree was first conferred by the Pontifical University, Maynooth, in 1982.
No permanent wholetime teachers of Religious Education were appointed in Vocational Schools without having the qualifications acceptable to the Minister.
The second teaching subject specified at (b) above must be studied to a level acceptable to the Minister. Under the new arrangements introduced in 1979 for religious instruction in vocational schools it was envisaged that provision would be made for certain teachers to acquire competence in the teaching of a secular subject of a standard acceptable to the Minister by way of suitable in-service sources. The appropriate arrangements were made in 1984. Nine teachers attended the course. Not all have been appointed on a permanent basis.