Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science her plans to ensure that the Teaching Council recognise that Engineering Degrees and PHDs are a suitable background to teach mathematics at secondary level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15918/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware the Teaching Council has statutory responsibility for the determination of the education, training and qualifications required for a person to be registered as a teacher. The requirements for registration with the Teaching Council are set out in its 2009 Registration Regulations and, in relation to the post-primary sector, the key qualifications requirements are: a recognised third-level degree consisting of at least three years of full-time study or equivalent and, where seeking registration for the purposes of teaching in the voluntary secondary, community or comprehensive sector an approved teacher education qualification.

An indicative list of recognised degrees, known as the "Approved Qualifications List" is published on the Teaching Council's website and this must be read in conjunction with the "Subject Specific Criteria". These criteria allow the Council to ensure that the particular subject and module options taken by any applicant in his or her degree are directed toward the post-primary syllabus in that subject and enable him or her to teach that subject at the highest standard i.e. Leaving Certificate (Higher Level). This is the case for mathematics.

Approximately 15 Engineering degrees are currently included on the Approved Qualifications list and the Teaching Council has informed my Department that many graduates of these programmes have been registered having demonstrated that they met the subject criteria and attained a suitable teacher education qualification. Graduates of other engineering programmes may apply to have their degree assessed having regard to the subject specific criteria and I understand that many have done so.

Entry to the teaching profession by people from a diverse range of backgrounds is welcomed by the Teaching Council. That said, the experience of the Council is that many engineering programmes cover mathematical concepts in an engineering context and may not include, in sufficient depth, areas that are important for teaching purposes.