Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 264: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the amount of finance provided to establish the Teaching Council; if this money will be repaid to the Department of Education and Skills; the amounts claimed in expenses by members of the Teaching Council. [22201/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Teaching Council Act provides for expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of the Act to be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. The Act also provided for the Teaching Council to be funded by my Department for 2 years after the establishment day, which was 28th March 2006. Prior to the establishment day, my Department was involved in the setting up of the Teaching Council and making payments on behalf of the Council. This included various expenses and costs incurred in relation to both the establishment of the Council and its work during this period. There is no requirement under the Act for the Council to repay such moneys.

The Teaching Council became a self funding body from 28 March 2008. The Council raises its funding from, in the main part, teachers' initial registration and renewal of registration fees. The annual registration fee is currently €90. In addition the Council has the capacity to charge fees for other services associated with registration including providing copies of or additional registration certificates, letters of professional standing, reviewing programmes of teacher education and qualification recognition. The following charges were made to the relevant subhead of my Department's vote in relation to the period prior to 28 March 2008:

2005 - €0.462m

2006 - €2.991m

2007 - €3.082m

2008 - €0.849m

There are 37 members on the Council. No fees are payable in relation to membership of the Council. The travel and subsistence expenses paid to the members since 2005 are as follows:- Year ended 31 December 2005 - €69, 640 Year ended 31 December 2006 - €104,512 (includes 9 months ended 31 December 2006 - €68,073*) Year ended 31 December 2007 - €180,120* Year ended 31 December 2008 - €138,859* Year ended 31 December 2009 - €143,982* *figures received from the Teaching Council