Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will clarify the leaving certificate requirements for a person who currently holds a primary science degree and who wishes to pursue a course to qualify as either a primary or post primary teacher; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24247/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Applicants for the approved Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) and the Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education must have the following academic qualifications: (a) an honours Bachelor degree - level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or a qualification at level 9 or 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications, and (b) one of the following sets of second level qualifications: (i) in the Leaving Certificate Examination from 1969 onwards: a grade C3 or above in Higher Level Irish; a grade D3 or above in Mathematics (Ordinary or Higher level); and a grade C3 or above in English (Ordinary level) or grade D3 or above in English (Higher level); (ii) in the Leaving Certificate Examination prior to 1969, Honours in Irish and passes in English and Mathematics; or (iii) in the Northern Ireland GCSE and GCE A Level Examinations: a Grade C at GCE A Level Irish; a Grade C at GCSE Level in both English and English Literature or Grade B at GCSE Level in either; and a Grade D at GCSE Level in Additional Mathematics or a Grade A at GCSE Level in Mathematics.

The following document gives further details including accepted alternatives to second level qualifications in Irish, English or Maths.

A post primary teacher in Ireland must hold a suitable degree and a suitable teacher education qualification. Details of the qualifications needed to be eligible for appointment to an incremental salaried teaching position in a voluntary secondary school, other than in a probationary capacity are available on the Teaching Council website www.teachingcouncil.ie.

The Deputy may be aware that the Teaching Council has begun work on the development of its strategy for the review and accreditation of initial teacher education programmes. Consultation fora have taken place and the Council hopes to commence reviews on a pilot basis in late 2009.