Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 98: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers who qualified in EU States other than Ireland who took up appointments in primary schools for the current academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19912/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Board of Management of a school is responsible for the recruitment, selection and appointment of teachers. The Deputy should note that my Department's function in this regard is to ensure that the particular appointment is warranted by reference to the approved staffing level of the school concerned, that the person being appointed is qualified for the post and that agreed appointment procedures have been followed.

According to my Department's records, 63 teachers, who qualified in EU States other than Ireland, took up appointments in primary schools in the 2005/06 school year.

Teachers trained outside the jurisdiction of the State, whose qualifications have been assessed and accepted by my Department, but who do not possess an appropriate Irish language qualification, are granted a five year period of provisional recognition to teach in mainstream classes in national schools. During this period these teachers are expected to obtain their Irish language qualification in order to become fully recognised.