Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider reviewing the higher diploma in education enforcement in all post primary schools including vocational education committees in view of the fact that there are concerns that across the board contracts of indefinite duration have been granted to teachers without higher diplomas. [24408/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is the policy of my Department that only a teacher registered with the Teaching Council, and who has qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which he or she is proposed, should be employed in a school.

The Teaching Council considers applications to be registered as Post Primary school teachers under Regulation 4 of the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, which were approved in November 2009. For the purpose of registration under regulation 4 up to 1 April 2013, the Council requires that an applicant have a primary degree or equivalent which is considered suitable and a suitable qualification in post primary teacher education. Teachers employed in the vocational education sector are not required, at this time, to have a H.Dip qualification in order to be considered qualified. The provision related to a post-primary teacher qualification does not generally apply to a person applying to register as a teacher in a VEC school until after 1 April 2013. Regulation 4 also provides for the acceptance of qualifications, which in the opinion of the Council are of an equivalent standard to the above and sufficient for registration.