Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1056: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications received by the Teaching Council since its establishment, from teachers currently working in schools and requesting to be recognised for the purposes of admission to the register of primary or post primary teachers; the number of applications which have been unsuccessful due to lack of appropriate qualifications on behalf of the applicant, in each years since the establishment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2469/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has made enquiries of the Teaching Council in relation to the Deputy's question and the following information has been received: Over 45,000 teachers who were already teaching in schools on the establishment day of the Teaching Council (28 March 2006), following verification of their details, were automatically deemed registered at that date and have since renewed their registration. These teachers were registered under section 31(2) of the Teaching Council Act. A number of these are unqualified and while they can be registered their certificate will indicate that they are not qualified teachers.

There are also in the region of 10,000 teachers who were deemed registered on establishment day, under section 31(2), but who have not renewed their registration. These teachers will now need to register under section 31. As with new applications, this will involve the submission of transcripts and proof of identity etc. It is anticipated that a number of these persons will be refused registration as they may not have the qualifications to be registered. For new applicants, there are two paths to registration with the Teaching Council: 1. Via qualifications recognition (applicants presenting qualifications that have not been previously recognised by the Council) 2. Via direct registration (applicants presenting previously recognised qualifications — usually graduates of Irish Teacher Education Programmes)

As part of the qualifications recognition process, transcripts, course outlines, course handbooks etc are assessed and the applicant is either recognised or not or may receive recognition pending the completion of shortfalls as a result of this process.

It is only when the recognition process is completed that an applicant will seek registration. As a result, almost all applicants that seek registration via this route are registered (unless there is a problem with Garda Vetting, Original Transcripts or Proof of Identity etc.), their qualifications having already been recognised as acceptable for registration as a teacher.

Since Establishment day, 1,328 applications for the recognition of primary teaching qualifications have been received. Approximately 80 applications have not been granted recognition. The remainder have either received full recognition or have been granted provisional recognition on the basis that a number of shortfalls (primarily in the Irish Language) will be fulfilled. There are also 34 applications from those who have completed a SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) programme of Teacher Education that are in the process of recognition.

At post-primary level, 1,046 applications for recognition have been received, but it is not possible to determine the exact number that have been recognised, as some applicants have received recognition of their degree or teacher training or both, and some are already recognised and were seeking additional subjects. Of the 1,046, applications, at least 50 applications are from applicants seeking recognition of their degree prior to entering the Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

A total of 159 applications for recognition in the Further Education sector have been received within the past 12 months. The Council has commenced the recognition process and will issue its first batch of decisions in the near future.

Since the Council was established in March 2006 to December 20th 2007, the Teaching Council has registered approximately 3,400 teachers via the Direct Registration Route. The vast majority of these applicants have graduated from Teacher Education Programmes in Ireland or were recognised as teachers prior to the establishment of the Teaching Council.

Three applicants (for post-primary registration) have been refused registration as their undergraduate degree does not satisfy the subject specific requirements of the Council (no teaching subject in the degree). One applicant (seeking to register as a primary teacher via the postgraduate route) did not satisfy the Department's requirement of a level 8 degree and consequently cannot be registered.

There are approximately 150 cases seeking registration where the Council received an application for registration with items missing from the application. The Council has corresponded with each applicant identifying the missing items. However there have been no responses from these applicants. The Council will further process these applications upon receipt of the outstanding information required.