Finian McGrath
Ceist:397. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will support a matter (details supplied) regarding teaching qualifications. [37956/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 18 September 2012
Ceisteanna (397)
Freagraí scríofa
It has been the policy of my Department for some time that only qualified and registered teachers should be employed by schools. Schools must ensure that teachers proposed for appointment to publicly paid teacher posts are registered with the Teaching Council and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are proposed. The qualifications of the person mentioned by the Deputy do not meet the requirements for registration set out under Teaching Council regulations. Once commenced, Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 will prohibit, by law, payment from public monies of people employed as teachers in recognised schools unless they are registered with the Teaching Council, subject to specific exclusions for very short-term cover which will be circumscribed by regulation. My Department and VECs will be bound by these regulations and will not be able to make exceptions in individual cases.