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Appointments to State Boards

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2010

Thursday, 6 May 2010

Ceisteanna (148, 149)

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

147 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the selection procedure for appointing teacher training college board members on the Teaching Council; the reason all teacher training colleges in Ireland are not represented on the Teaching Council; the procedures that exist for colleges that are not represented on the Teaching Council to give input and gain insight into new requirements developed by the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18406/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

149 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the appointment procedure for the two positions nominated by colleges of education on the Teaching Council; if she will outline the way that the third level bodies are selected for the nomination of two persons for the Teaching Council; if she will list all the colleges of education and specified third level bodies involved in nominating these combined four persons to the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18408/10]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 149 together.

The composition of the Teaching Council, and selection and appointment of its members are provided for in the Teaching Council Act 2001. Section 8 of the Act provides for members of the Council to be appointed by the Minister and to include:

[Section 8(2)(c)]

2 persons nominated jointly by the following bodies:

(i) St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin;

(ii) Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin;

(iii) St. Mary's, Marino, Dublin;

(iv) Froebel College of Education, Sion Hill, Blackrock, County Dublin;

(v) Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, And

[Section 8(2)(d)(xi)]

2 persons nominated jointly by the following bodies:

(i) National College of Art and Design;

(ii) National University of Ireland, Cork;

(iii) National University of Ireland, Dublin;

(iv) National University of Ireland, Galway;

(v) National University of Ireland, Maynooth;

(vi) Dublin University;

(vii) University of Limerick;

(viii) Dublin City University;

(ix) St. Catherine's College of Education for Home Economics, Sion Hill, Blackrock, County Dublin;

(x) St. Angela's College of Education, Sligo;

(xi) such other bodies, providing university or other higher education and training (within the meaning of the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999), as the Council shall determine,

The Act provided for the representation on the Teaching Council of institutions offering teacher training in the State at that time.

Following consultation with the Council, institutions may be added to, or deleted from these provisions.

Other institutions may, if they so wish, seek representation by inclusion under the provision in Section 8(2)(d)(xi) of the Act.

Regarding Selection Procedure(s), prior to the end of the term of office of a Council, the Director puts processes in place for the election or nomination of new members. The bodies at 8(2)(c) and 8(2)(d)(xi), are invited to submit the names of their agreed selection. It is a matter for the colleges to devise the selection process and the Council does not advise on the mechanism whereby this selection is to be undertaken.

It is Teaching Council policy to communicate and consult widely with stakeholders, including teacher educators. In practice this may mean that the Council might, for example, invite stakeholders to meetings, issue and seek feedback on draft policy documents on matters of relevance to their work and so on.

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