Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 95: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the Irish language requirement in the leaving certificate, an honour in the higher paper, for entry into national teaching (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47578/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department currently specifies the minimum academic requirements for entry to primary teacher training courses provided in the Colleges of Education. As part of these requirements, all candidates, including school leavers, mature students and university graduates, must have a minimum of a Grade C in Higher Level in Irish in the Leaving Certificate, or an approved equivalent.

It is essential that teachers in the primary sector have a high standard of Irish on entry to teacher education programmes in Ireland. It is a particular feature of Irish primary education that children, from the beginning of schooling, have an experience of language learning in two subjects, Irish and English. In addition the use of Irish is integrated throughout the primary curriculum where possible and Irish is used as a natural means of communication in the daily life of the class and the school. For these reasons, there are no plans to reduce the Irish language requirement for entry to teacher education programmes.

EU Directive 2005/36/EC governing the recognition of professional qualifications came into force on 20 October 2007. The Teaching Council is the designated authority for recognition of qualifications for the regulated profession of primary and secondary teachers. Where an applicant for registration as a primary teacher has completed a programme of teacher education outside of Ireland, an Irish Language Requirement condition will normally be applied to his/her registration. This can be addressed by either completing an Aptitude Test (SCG - An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge) or an Adaptation Period (OCG – Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge). Conditional registration is granted to those who are in the process of completing this requirement. A maximum period of three years is permitted to satisfy this condition.

The Teaching Council has statutory responsibility in relation to the standards of education and training appropriate to a person entering a programme of teacher education and training. The Council is currently drafting a policy paper on the continuum of teacher education spanning all stages of the teacher's career from initial teacher education through induction to continuing professional development. The policy paper will provide the framework within which the Council will implement its functions relating to teacher education, including initial teacher education and I look forward to the outcome of the Council's work in due course.

Procedures for the appointment of Special Needs Assistants (SNA) are set out in my Department Circulars 05/2001 and SNA 03/03. These Circulars specify that the minimum qualification necessary for appointment as an SNA is an award of Grade D (or pass) in Irish, English and Mathematics in the Intermediate Certificate/Junior Certificate or Day Vocational Certificate Examination or in an examination of equivalent standard.

In this context, a qualification of equivalent standard is any qualification at Level 3 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) established by the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), provided that the qualification, or a combination of such qualifications, certifies to the achievement of a minimum of a pass in the subjects Irish, English and Mathematics.

With regard to the means by which a person may attain the necessary educational requirements, local education service providers (e.g. Vocational Education Committees) may be able to assist with access to an appropriate course or courses which will, on successful completion, lead to an award of the required standard.

The terms and conditions and appointment criteria pertaining to Special Needs Assistants have been agreed at national level with the various representative organisations and it would not be appropriate for the Minister to comment in individual cases.