Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Jun 1998

Vol. 491 No. 6

Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

269 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if it is necessary for a teacher who teaches in a special needs school to have fluent Irish; if a teacher can be appointed with full pension rights and entitlements without Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12621/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

My Department recently issued Circular 19/98 detailing the new arrangements concerning the employment of teachers in special schools and special classes attached to ordinary national schools.

Under these new provisions, teachers who have trained outside the State and who wish to teach in the following categories of school will no longer be required to possess an Irish language qualification and will be granted restricted recognition: schools and classes for pupils with severe and profound mental handicap; schools and classes for pupils with mild mental handicap; schools and classes for pupils with moderate mental handicap; schools and classes for pupils with hearing impairment; schools and classes for pupils with emotional or severe emotional disturbance; schools and classes for pupils with multiple disability; and classes for children with specific speech and language disorders.

Such teachers must have a general primary teacher qualification recognised by my Department and must also have a recognised postgraduate qualification in a particular aspect of special education relevant to the particular type of special school or special class; or completed a basic primary teaching training course which incorporated substantial modules on special education and supervised teaching practice in special schools or classes; or a minimum of three years' satisfactory teaching experience in special schools or classes.

Teachers which restricted recognition who teach in special schools as specified above or in special classes in ordinary schools in either a temporary or permanent capacity will be admitted to the superannuation scheme and will be paid salary by reference to the incremental salary scale.