Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the situation of the 217 Montessori trained teachers employed by her Department working in the special needs area in mainstream schools who, due to changes in conditions to special needs provision, are no longer secure in their positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25950/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Two Montessori qualifications are recognised for restricted recognition by my Department, namely the AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) qualification, which has been recognised for teaching in special education settings since 1963, and the B.A. in humanities in Montessori Education from St. Nicholas Montessori College, Dún Laoghaire, which has been recognised since 1997, and is accredited by HETAC (formerly NCEA). Both courses are full-time and of at least three years duration.

Teachers with the above recognised Montessori qualifications are granted restricted recognition to teach in special schools and in the categories of special classes in mainstream schools where Irish is not a curricular requirement. Such teachers are also eligible for posts as resource teachers (low incidence) for children with special needs in mainstream schools (Circular 02/2005). The conditions governing the recognition of qualifications are set out in Circular 25/00, Recognition of Teacher Qualifications for the Purpose of Teaching in National Schools.

The Deputy may be aware that, with effect from 28th March, 2006, the Teaching Council is the designated authority for recognition of qualifications for the regulated profession of primary teacher.