Vol. 398 No. 1
203 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education if she will give details of her policy on the recognition of second level teachers from Northern Ireland, who have not passed the aptitude test in Irish, for appointment to posts in second level schools in the State to perform responsibilities other than the teaching of Irish.
A teacher who does not have an acceptable qualification in the Irish language may not be appointed to an authorised permanent whole-time position in a community, comprehensive or vocational school. Where for an authorised permanent whole-time position there is among the candidates, otherwise properly qualified, no candidate possessing an acceptable qualification in Irish, a temporary whole-time or part-time appointment may be made for one year pending the acquisition of the Irish language qualification.
A teacher who lacks the necessary qualification in Irish may be appointed to a post in a secondary school, on a temporary basis, for not more than one year, pending passing the relevant examination before the end of that school year. Unless the teacher obtains the appropiate qualification, he/she is removed from the payroll until such time as the qualification in Irish is acquired. These regulations apply to all teachers, including those from Northern Ireland, and I have no plans at present to change them.
