Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a recognised teaching qualification is a prerequisite to registration under section 31 of the Teaching Council Act 2001; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13522/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Section 31 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 and 2006 provides for the registration of all those employed as a teacher, or those entitled to be employed as a teacher, on establishment day of the council, which, as the Deputy is aware, was on 28 March last. The legislation also provides that all of these people will be automatically registered for a period of one year after establishment day until their registration comes up for renewal on 28 March of 2007.

The Teaching Council Act 2001 and 2006 is not prescriptive on the issue of specific qualifications required for teaching. However, it should be noted that elsewhere in the legislation, the term "teacher" is defined as someone who "before the establishment day has achieved the qualifications required by the Minister for employment as a teacher in a recognised school".

It should also be noted that under the terms of the legislation, the council has the power to make regulations covering, inter alia, the conditions for admission to the register which may include qualifications and teaching experience, among other matters. I understand that, building on the work of the Registration Council and of the Department in regard to the registration of teachers, significant work has already been undertaken by the council on the regulations which should be completed shortly. The regulations will set out the requirements for registration as a teacher.

The regulations will initially cover applications from two groups: (i) newly qualified teachers who wish to commence teaching in the 2006-07 school year and who are currently in our colleges of education; and (ii) applications from persons qualified from outside Ireland. In addition, and most importantly, the regulations will cover the renewal of the registrations of all those who were deemed to have been registered on establishment day for the one-year period from 28 March 2006 to 28 March 2007.

In order to secure the registration of all teachers currently within the system, as envisaged by section 31, the council is currently examining information on individual teachers which has been provided to the council by my Department and, where relevant, VECs around the country. It is intended that the council will, in the near future, write to each teacher requesting confirmation of all data received from my Department and the VECs, including their qualifications. It is important to check the accuracy of this information as it will constitute part of the register which the council is charged with maintaining under the legislation.

I understand, however, that the council is mindful of those who, although not holding full qualifications, have in certain areas of the country provided services where no qualified teacher could be found. I am informed that the council will consider these small numbers of unqualified people having regard to its desire to maintain high standards in an all-graduate profession while also having regard to issues of natural justice and fairness. It is expected that the council will resolve this issue over the next 12 months in time for the renewal of registrations on 28 March of 2007.