Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - Teaching Qualifications.

Noel Davern

Ceist:

275 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is now being probated by his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person was fully trained and probated in her own country; and the reason for the need for probation now in view of the fact that this person was given a permanent post in February 2001. [29966/03]

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

The teacher in question holds a permanent teaching post in a special school using her restricted recognition, which was granted to her with effect from 1 September 2000. Circular letter 25/00, which governs the recognition of teacher qualifications for the purpose of teaching in national schools, clearly stipulates that teachers who are granted restricted recognition must undergo a one year probationary period in this State regardless of experience abroad.

The current situation is that all teachers who take up positions in special schools must undergo probation, unless they have already been probated in a mainstream Irish national school setting. This includes Irish teachers with recognised second level qualifications. The probationary requirement is designed to ensure quality in special education provision.