Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.

David Stanton

Ceist:

314 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications for recognition from teachers who qualified outside the State that are currently being assessed by his Department in the respective subject areas; the number which are for primary and second level teaching; the length of time it takes to reach a decision on average; the number of such applications received in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and to date in 2003; the number that have been approved and rejected at each level in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18703/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

It would require an inordinate amount of official time to address all of the detail requested by the Deputy. The available figures at primary level in respect of non-Irish trained applicants are 453 in 2000, 654 in 2001, 629 in 2002 and 178 to date in 2003. At second level, the available figures relate to the work of the Registration Council and are 606 in 2000, 699 in 2001, 456 in 2002 and 220 to date in 2003. A decision on the suitability of qualifications in individual cases is normally issued within four months of all required documentation having been received in my Department.

Question No. 315 answered with Question No. 249.