Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001 to 2015, the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland, including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession and it promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act and there are five routes of registration.

The Covid-19 amendment regulation was introduced as a short-term temporary measure to ease teacher supply issues. It enabled teachers who had not completed induction in the country in which they qualified, but who met particular criteria, to obtain registration in Ireland. This, in turn, gave them an opportunity to complete induction here. This is not the usual practice as a fully registered, overseas-qualified teacher covered under EU mutual recognition of professional qualifications legislation will, in most jurisdictions, have to complete induction in the country in which they obtained their qualification in order to be fully registered.

The amendment regulation closed for applications on 1 February 2024. The amendment which was in place has now expired and a further statutory instrument would be required to establish this regulation for a longer period which, under the Teaching Council Act, is a matter for the council. Through engagement with the council on this matter, I can advise that the council is considering any further amendment to provide for the completion of induction in Ireland for overseas qualified teachers in the context of its legislative framework, including relevant EU legislation. Any updates, changes or amendments in this regard will be published on the Teaching Council website, www.teachingcouncil.ie.

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