Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 287: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of teachers in respect of the annual subscription paid to the Teaching Council; her views on the problems that this creates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9586/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy will be aware the Teaching Council Act 2001 provided for the establishment of a Council for the purposes of promoting teaching as a profession, maintaining and improving the standards of teaching, providing for the establishment of standards, policies and procedures for the education and training of teachers, and other matters relating to teachers and the teaching profession.

To date, the Teaching Council set up under the Act has been funded by my Department. However, from 28 March 2008, the Council will become a self-funding body and an annual registration renewal fee will be payable by all registered teachers. This fee is important as it will underpin the Council's financial independence and is an essential prerequisite to the development of the Council as an autonomous, self-regulating body. I have approved the level of the fee at €90 per annum, which is in line with other professional regulatory bodies.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department has been in close communication with the Teaching Council and with teachers' representative bodies over the course of the last year, to ensure all parties were aware of the implications and methods of fee-collection and to ensure a smooth transition to the Council becoming a self-funding body.