Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 111: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the changes made by her to the probation process for newly qualified teachers; if she will confirm that the requirements of the probation process must now be achieved in three years instead of five years; if she has considered the impact this will have on teachers who are unable to find regular work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33503/10]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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In July 2010, the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills announced reforms regarding the probation of teachers. She indicated it was her intention to place the responsibility for establishing arrangements for the induction and probation of teachers with the Teaching Council from September 2012, in line with the provisions of the Teaching Council Act. The changes announced also involved the provision of a national induction programme for all teachers. This is important because the provision of supports and advice to newly qualified teachers can make a significant contribution to improving the quality of the teaching profession. The provision of a national induction programme for all teachers who are registered with probationary conditions by the Teaching Council will mean that for the first time all newly qualified teachers will have access to a year-long induction programme to support them in the transition from initial teacher education to full-time teaching.

It was in light of the provision of this induction programme that the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills made changes to the probationary process for primary teachers. Newly qualified primary teachers will continue to have to satisfy service requirements and professional competence requirements in order to gain full registration with the Teaching Council. However, the service requirement has been reduced from 178 days of continuous service, or 300 days of broken service, within five years accumulated service to 170 days within three years from the date of initial registration with the Teaching Council. In addition, in the past that service had to include two periods of at least 60 consecutive school days; from 1 September the requirement will be two periods of 50 consecutive school days. This reduction in the service requirements will facilitate newly qualified teachers who may have difficulty finding regular work.

Given the advice and support provided to these teachers in the induction programme, it has also been possible to alter the inspection of the primary teacher's professional competence. The competence of the teacher will now be inspected over two unannounced inspection visits rather than during one unannounced and one notified inspection visit.

There have been no changes to the service or professional competence requirements of the probationary conditions attaching the registration of post-primary teachers.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Does the Minister of State accept that the answer he read contradicts a previous answer offered by the Minister of State, Deputy Mary White? One side of the Department is extending the period where unqualified teachers can be hired at the discretion of a principal or board of management, while at the same time the window of opportunity for young, newly qualified teachers to get the necessary hours for full recognition is being squeezed from five years to three years. That makes it more difficult at a time of a surplus of qualified graduates for them to gain the necessary hours to be fully qualified while leaving open a back door that will enable principals to continue to hire unqualified teachers nine years after the introduction of the Act. This is the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing in Marlborough Street.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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We are reducing the number of consecutive days and those can be split into two periods for a teacher to achieve certification. That will help teachers who are finding it difficult to achieve a regular position. We are lessening the requirement deliberately to allow that to happen. Deputy White can reply for herself as well.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Young teachers are finding it impossible. The Minister of State is wrong on this.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister of State agree that for proper induction of new teachers, much more in-class monitoring of teachers is needed? There should be someone in the classroom to advise and help new teachers. Many of the courses being provided take place outside of school hours instead of monitoring the teachers in school in real time.

I have received a significant number of complaints about retired teachers who are working in schools while recently qualified teachers cannot get work.

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister's predecessor, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, wrote to schools to urge them to recognise the requirements of younger teachers, making precisely that point. Ultimately that decision is for school principals to make, the Department does not decide on the hiring of people.

There are in-school arrangements being put in place under this induction programme. Support will be given by principal teachers and nominated experienced teachers to teachers are learning in the classroom. There is no difficulty with that.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Will the Minister of State enter discussions with the Teaching Council and the teachers' unions to satisfy himself that these changes will not have the adverse effects that have been signalled to me?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I will urge the Tánaiste to enter such discussions, informally or otherwise, because we would not like to see such unintended consequences.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I understood there was to be more invigilation in real time in the classroom. That was one of the points brought to my attention; a new teacher should have more supervision. Has there been a reduction in the hours that were originally proposed for supervision of a new teacher under this scheme?

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have that information at hand but I will come back to the Deputy on it.