Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason Montessori teaching qualifications are not recognised as qualifying a person to teach in primary schools, and the action that needs to be taken to change this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48679/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Since March 2006, the recognition of teacher qualifications for the purpose of registration has been the responsibility of the Teaching Council. Teachers with a Montessori qualification are registered under Regulation 3 (Montessori and Other Qualifications) and are taken as analogous to 'Restricted Recognition' as set out in Circular 25/00 – Recognition of Teacher Qualifications for the Purpose of Teaching in National Schools. There are differences between Montessori teaching and Primary Teaching across the entire content and teaching methodology of the primary school curriculum. Teachers with a Montessori qualification are at present given restricted recognition to teach in special schools and in the categories of special classes in mainstream national schools where Irish is not a curricular requirement and in resource posts for pupils with special needs in mainstream schools.

To change the situation such teachers would need to undertake further studies, suitable for qualification as a primary teacher. The Teaching Council has statutory responsibility for professional accreditation of initial teacher education programmes. It is open to any teacher education provider to submit proposals to the Teaching Council for the accreditation of courses leading to qualification as a primary teacher. My officials have discussed this issue with the Teaching Council and will engage with the initial teacher educators in the near future.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding allowances in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [48693/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Any teacher who was employed in a teaching post in the public sector on or before 4 December 2011 and who was, on that date, undertaking a course of study leading to a degree level award is eligible to apply for qualification allowances in respect of that course of study. The person to whom the Deputy refers is not currently in receipt of the Honours Degree allowance as she was undertaking a course of study leading to a Level 8 honours degree on 5 December 2011. An allowance in respect of this qualification will be payable in accordance with the pre-December 2011 scheme of allowances once it has been achieved.