Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 November 2022
74. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that teachers who have qualified as primary teachers in the UK cannot return to do their on-the-job training year; and if such a requirement could be waived given the shortage of teachers being experienced at present. [55727/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFully qualified teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council. All applications from teachers who qualified abroad are processed in line with EU Directive 2005/36/EC and are assessed in the same manner, regardless of whether they qualified within or outside the EU. All applications are individually assessed.
A person deemed to be a fully qualified teacher:
- has completed a recognised teacher education qualification and programme of induction in the country in which they qualified, and
- can provide an official letter from the relevant teacher registration body / Competent Authority or Ministry of Education confirming recognition as a fully qualified teacher in the State/ country.
In accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC, the qualifications of teachers who qualified outside of the ROI are assessed to ensure they are of a comparable standard to those achieved by graduates of accredited programmes in Ireland. Where significant differences arise, conditions (qualification shortfalls) will be applied to the teacher's registration.
It is recommended that any teacher who wishes to clarify their particular situation should make contact directly with the Teaching Council. Queries to the Council may be sent by email to: qa@teachingcouncil.ie.
My Department runs a comprehensive programme of work to support the supply of teachers at primary level.
Significant additional posts have been allocated to the primary substitute teacher supply panels in areas where significant challenges in sourcing substitution continue, bringing the total to 610 posts on 151 panels, covering approximately 2,800 schools, including 114 primary schools in Co. Meath.
The supply panels work alongside the existing methods of sourcing substitute teachers and schools can also make local arrangements to have their own regular substitutes to call on if needed.
Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) represent an additional source of supply in 2022/23. In excess of 1,870 primary NQTs have had their registrations finalised by the Teaching Council to date in 2022 with further applications being processed.
Sub Seeker is a central portal for short-term substitute vacancies. The portal was jointly developed by IPPN/NAPD in accordance with my Department's Teacher Supply Action Plan and launched in December 2019. The portal matches available primary and post-primary teachers with short-term substitute vacancies. Almost 12,000 teachers have registered with Sub Seeker to date.
On a temporary basis for the 2022/23 school year, job sharing teachers may be employed to work in a substitute capacity during the period they are rostered off, in their own or in other schools.
The limits on substitute work applying to teachers on career break have also been temporarily suspended for the 2022/23 school year.
The Teaching Council made regulations allowing for the registration of 3rd and 4th year undergraduate student teachers under a new registration route, Route 5 (Student Teachers). Approximately 1,300 student teachers applied for registration under the first cycle of Route 5 registrations. The second cycle of Route 5 registrations commenced in early October. Once registered with the Teaching Council, student teachers can be employed by a school to cover substitutable vacancies.
My Department will continue, with the cooperation of the education partners, to develop and implement measures to address challenges faced by schools and to support the supply of teachers.
