Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Apr 1996

Vol. 463 No. 6

Written Answers. - Primary Teacher Pay.

Dermot Ahern

Ceist:

186 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Down who has recently been appointed to teach at Scoil Róis, an Irish language medium primary school in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, is not being paid the proper salary as he is being treated as an untrained substitute in view of the fact that he has not taken the Irish language examination, in spite of the fact that he has a grade A at A level and a degree in Irish, which should be sufficient to exempt him from sitting such examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7019/96]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The teacher to whom the Deputy refers trained as a primary teacher abroad. Teachers trained abroad are not automatically recognised to teach in primary schools in the Republic of Ireland. This is because Irish primary teachers are class teachers as distinct from individual subject teachers. They must be qualified to teach all aspects of the curriculum, of which Irish is an integral element. There is, therefore, a requirement that all teachers seeking full recognition as primary teachers in this country must achieve a standard and competence in the Irish language.

This standard can be achieved by undergoing and passing the Irish qualification examination entitled "An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Gaeilge", both written and oral, or its equivalent both written and oral. People who hold a recognised BA degree in Irish may be entitled to an exemption from part II of this examiniation. I understand that the teacher in question has been so exempted. I indicated some months ago that I proposed to allow teachers trained in Northern Ireland and the European Union to teach for a period of up to two years at a salary rate appropriate to a trained teacher. The full details of these arrangements will be notified to schools after Easter. This teacher will be covered by the new arrangements.