David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current amount of time it takes the Teaching Council to process applications for registration; the current number of applications awaiting registration at present; if there is a process whereby registration can be fast-tracked if applicants have received an offer of a teaching position; the current number of applications awaiting registration at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27604/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I have been informed by the Teaching Council that the amount of time that it takes to process applications for registration is dependent on the type of application.

The Council has stated that it makes every effort to expedite an application in urgent circumstances such as confirming registration for teachers taking up new appointments. However, it cannot register a teacher without appropriate documentation, Garda Vetting Clearance, and certification of qualifications. The current turnaround time for the Garda Central Vetting Unit to return an outcome is 4 – 6 weeks. The Council must at all times be conscious of avoiding any fast tracking mechanisms which might compromise or dilute standards of entry into the profession.

The following document details the current processing timeframes where applications are properly completed and all supporting documentation is provided, as well as the current number of applications in the various categories. The Council has stated that these processing times are within EU guidelines, where applicable, and compare favourably with similar regulatory bodies in other jurisdictions.