Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister.

I welcome section 30 of the Bill which provides that teachers may only be employed if they are registered and, more importantly, qualified according to standards defined by the Teaching Council. Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 expressly prohibits the payment of non-recognised teachers in recognised schools from State funds. However, it has not been enacted to date and there is currently no statutory obligation to employ only registered teachers. The Department acknowledges that there are some unqualified teachers working in schools and it is believed that up to half of all 3,200 primary schools have employed an unqualified teacher for up to one week during the first half of the 2011 school year.

The Teaching Council has reported that 73,000 teachers are currently registered. The register will set the mark of professional recognition for teachers and set out standards of knowledge, which is important. It will oblige teachers to engage in ongoing training and curriculum training. This measure will enhance the job prospects of our new, recently qualified teachers and will provide a better education to children especially in cases where maternity or sick leave must be filled in our schools. In certain circumstances the Minister will allow the employment of unregistered teachers. However, this will only be in limited circumstances, in instances where there is a genuine shortage and where the substitute is required at short notice. The employment of teachers who are not registered because of their unfitness to teach will not be possible under the Bill and I welcome this measure as well.

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