Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
250 Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the registration of untrained substitute primary teachers with the Teaching Council; if there are any supports in place to enable these untrained teachers to become formally qualified teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9692/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is desirable that there be a fully qualified professional body of teachers. The Teaching Council aims to promote and maintain the highest standards of teaching, learning and professional conduct in our schools. People who were not qualified but were employed as a teacher in a recognised school, and paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, or eligible to be so employed on establishment of the Teaching Council in March 2006 were allowed to become registered under sections 31(2) and 31(3) of the Teaching Council Act 2001. In March 2006, the details of 998 substitute teachers (at primary level) were transferred to the Council of which 298 were not deemed qualified at the time of transfer. Out of this figure, some 204 did not apply for registration under section 31(3) within the specified period or have since let their registration lapse, 55 people completed the qualifications required in order to be deemed qualified and 39 people remain registered without the required qualifications. For people who did not register under sections 31(2) and 31(3), the Teaching Council requires that the requirements as set out under Regulation 2 of the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, which were approved in November 2009 are met for registration as a primary teacher. It is possible to become formally qualified through a Postgraduate Diploma in Education held in the four publicly funded Colleges of Education, and a private college, Hibernia College, for the purpose of enabling third level graduates to qualify as primary teachers. People who successfully complete this course may be registered by the Teaching Council as qualified for service in the State's primary schools.
