Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the payment of an annual fee to the Teaching Council is required if a person cannot obtain any work in that profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36450/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy may be aware, access to the profession of teaching in recognised schools in Ireland is regulated by the Teaching Council, the designated Competent Authority for the regulation of the profession. To date over 70,000 teachers have been registered with the Council. Under Section 23 of the Act, the Council has statutory authority to charge a fee which is set at €90 per year at present. The fee is payable by all registered teachers regardless of their employment status. The fee is considered reasonable compared with that levied by other professional regulatory bodies which also do not differentiate based on level of employment.