I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 120 together.
The Teaching Council is the statutory body with responsibility for professional standards at all stages of the teaching career. It has established standards for post-qualification professional practice, as set out in Droichead, the new model of induction and probation for newly qualified primary and post-primary teachers. The Droichead programme was the subject of a three-year pilot before it was approved by the Council in March 2016. The programme is being introduced on a phased basis since last September.
During the growth and development phase of Droichead, teachers employed in a special education or restricted setting must avail of the Droichead programme to achieve full registration with the Council.
The INTO issued a directive to its members not to co-operate with or participate in Droichead from 1 July 2016. This directive has prevented newly qualified teachers employed in special education settings from participating in Droichead since September and thereby closed off the registration pathway. I hope the INTO will review its approach.
Under the pay measures which the Department agreed in September 2016 with the INTO it was agreed there would be an immediate time-bound engagement involving relevant parties, to resolve issues with Droichead, including the current directive on non-cooperation. The INTO has since met with the Teaching Council and the Council undertook a review of Droichead Policy which resulted in a revised Policy being approved by the Council on 12 December 2016. The revised policy does not change the requirement for teachers in a special education setting to avail of Droichead.
I can confirm that the INTO have raised the issue of resources to support the implementation of the new policy. My Department is considering the impact of the new policy adopted by the Council.
