Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
979. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education the number of new primary teachers registered with the Teaching Council in each of the years since 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18825/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.
The figures they have provided for the number of registrations for Newly Qualified Teachers (Primary) since 2014 are as follows:
2014 = c. 1,700
2015 = 915
2016 = 2002
2017 = 1744
2018 =1789
2019 = 1792
2020 = 1914
The Teaching Council inform me there are a number of caveats to this data, namely:
- These numbers relate to Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) who registered with the Council using the fast-track NQT registration process. Primary Teachers who registered outside this process are not counted.
- The number for 2014 is an approximate figure only.
- The reduction in graduate numbers in 2015 is directly due to the commencement of the reconceptualised initial teacher education programmes.
