Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I understand that the Minister of State is working from a prepared script, which is fair enough, but I need him to address the issue. I understand the current position, but a dispensation is necessary. In the case I raised, and I suspect many others, the necessity of registering was not clear to teachers in 2006. A large number of teachers who have been working for many years, who possess qualifications and who are needed in their schools are not registered. They can no longer register because the Teaching Council will not allow them to do so. A dispensation should be made for this group of teachers so they do not lose their jobs.

It seems the legislation was focused on the primary and secondary sectors and did not take into account the peculiar characteristics of vocational education, including the different subjects and types of qualifications that do not necessarily fit neatly into the degree model required by the council. This needs to be recognised and accommodated. There are likely many teachers with different types of qualifications who should be allowed to register.

The Minister of State did not respond to my point on people's rights as workers. One is supposed to be entitled to a contract of indefinite duration after three years, yet the VECs do not seem to have provided them. Will the right of these workers to be employed be upheld?

I appeal to the Minister of State to provide a dispensation and to require the Teaching Council to allow teachers to register. It would be fair and reasonable. Will he address my points?

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