Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 September 2011
106 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is concerned that a large number of trainee primary teachers have been unable to get their probationary year post and so cannot fully qualify as teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25477/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that, despite the restrictions on recruitment to the public sector arising from the calamitous economic crisis our country is in, teacher vacancies are continuing to be filled.
Nevertheless, anecdotal evidence indicates that there is an over supply of teachers and that there are newly qualified teachers not yet holding teaching positions in schools, which will enable them to fulfil the requirements for full registration with the Teaching Council. The full extent of over supply is not yet known.
In light of concerns expressed by teaching unions, my Department has introduced a circular which obliges schools to recruit unemployed teachers ahead of retired ones, in an effort to ease the difficulties for those who cannot find work in the profession.
My Department is also engaged in discussion to extend the JobBridge National Internship Scheme to teachers and I hope to issue a circular to schools in the near future. This will provide newly qualified teachers with opportunities to undertake the necessary teaching duties to complete the process of probation and fulfil the requirements for full registration with the Teaching Council.
In light of the numbers of newly qualified teachers likely to enter the teaching profession and the expected availability of teaching positions, the Teaching Council has agreed that the minimum service requirement for registration probation purposes will be decreased from 170 days to 100 days for the school year 2011/12.
