Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

We are obviously aware of it and there will always be some level of unqualified personnel. That will occur as a result of short-term absences. It is inevitable that schools must be in a position to have recourse to unqualified personnel. My predecessor indicated her intention to bring forward amending legislation which would set the limitations on a school's capacity to engage other than qualified teachers, and it is my intention to advance this amendment to the Teaching Council Act 2001 in the current year.

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