Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to discuss this important issue that is critical to Dún Laoghaire colleges of further education and other colleges of further education throughout the country.

From 1 November next, to be paid from State funds, teachers employed in State-funded teaching positions must be registered with the Teaching Council. While implementation of this provision is welcome, there is a need for flexibility in the system as it is currently causing an employment crisis for one college of further education in Dún Laoghaire. I will outline the reason this flexibility is required. First, there is currently no provision in some of the new education and training boards to employ a teacher whose Teaching Council registration is pending. As a result of this, Dún Laoghaire Senior College currently has a certified sick leave vacancy that cannot be filled in the short term, resulting in the cancellation of classes for students. While the supervision and substitution scheme can be used to provide some cover for short-term absences, it is only a temporary solution. Teachers who are available for supervision and substitution generally do not have the subject expertise and skills to deliver the content required. As I stated, supervision and substitution is acceptable on a short term basis, but classes cannot continue to be cancelled should sick leave be extended. This will have a severe impact, particularly in further education, and must be urgently addressed.

Colleges of further education, by their very nature, offer specialist classes including cloud computing, theatrical make-up and soccer coaching. Often experts in an industry are more appropriately competent in these areas than are persons with a teaching diploma. Unfortunately, classes in cloud computing have had to be cancelled owing to this new registration requirement. I have been contacted by students who are upset, annoyed and disappointed because their courses have been cancelled. This is not acceptable. Accommodations must be made to allow the employment of industry specialists until persons deemed qualified by the Teaching Council can be recruited or until such time as these specialists complete a teaching diploma or tutor's course.

The implementation of section 30 has prevented and will continue to prevent new course development and innovation, which has been the hallmark of further education for the past 30 years. I therefore urge the Minister to put in place a mechanism to allow the education and training boards to employ teachers whose Teaching Council registrations are pending. I also call on him to put in place a mechanism to allow the education and training boards to employ industry specialists to fill immediate vacancies.

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