Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 119: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48015/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The issues raised by the Deputy primarily related to the recent budget. Budget 2011 is a budget that recognises the critical role of the education and skills sector to Ireland's future prospects. While difficult choices had to be made to identify savings across my Department's remit, the Government has gone as far as it could to protect front line services in 2011.

The Deputy also raised issues about the amendment to section 30 of the Teaching Council Act. Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, which has not yet been commenced, provides that only registered teachers can be remunerated out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. While it is still the aim of the Minister that all teachers in schools be registered with the Council (and therefore fully qualified), it is apparent that to commence Section 30 as it stands could have a serious negative impact for a small number of schools where, in specific circumstances, unqualified personnel are required in the short term. Section 12 of the Education (Amendment) Bill 2010 is necessary for the amendment of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act to allow for the employment, only in certain exceptional and limited circumstances, of persons who are not registered teachers under the Act.

It is the policy of my Department that only qualified personnel should be employed by schools. Circular 40/2010, which issued earlier this year, directs schools to ensure that teachers proposed for appointment to publicly paid teaching posts are registered with the Teaching Council and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are proposed. In addition, my Department recently issued a reminder to school authorities calling on schools to give priority to newly or recently qualified teachers when making appointments for periods of substitution and other temporary appointments.