Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 746: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way in which a teacher who has trained in the UK in special needs teaching can retrain in Ireland to be eligible for employment here; and the examinations he/she will have to undertake. [11645/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Under the EU Directives for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications, provisions are made whereby professionals qualified in one (home) Member State can seek professional recognition of their qualifications in another (host) Member State for the purpose of practising their profession in that host Member State. These Directives apply only where the profession is regulated in the host Member State, as teaching is in the UK.

As the designated authority under the EU Directives, issues in relation to the recognition and registration of teachers in this jurisdiction are a matter for the Teaching Council.

Teachers registered in the UK are currently eligible for registration as teachers with the Teaching Council subject to conditions relating to the Irish language requirement and probation.

Learning support/special educational needs teachers in primary schools in Ireland are, first and foremost, qualified primary teachers. The appointment of teachers to special educational needs roles is a matter for schools themselves, taking intoaccount the needs of the student body and the qualifications of individual teachers. There is no specific qualification required. However, to be eligible for appointment to a Learning Support post, a teacher must be fully probated.

My Department funds a number of avenues of continuing professional development for qualified teachers. Among these is the Combined Post-Graduate Diploma Programme of Continuous Professional Development for Teachers involved in Learning Support and Special Education. This is a one year part-time course for teachers in Special Education and Learning Support Posts. A circular and application form for the next available course will issue in January 2009 to all schools. For further details on the course, I refer you the last circular 0003/2008, available on the Departments website, www.education.ie.

Teachers may also avail of training in Special Educational Needs through the Special Education Support Service. Further information and contact details are available at www.sess.ie.