John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if teaching experience in a montessori school in a member state of the European Union is recognised by the Teaching Council of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35685/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I take it that the Deputy is referring to persons seeking to be registered as teachers on the basis of qualifications and/or experience in the field of Montessori teaching.

Such persons may be eligible to be registered in accordance with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations. Regulation Three (Montessori and Other Categories) stipulates that applicants must hold qualifications at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications which are deemed suitable for teaching pupils with special education needs in mainstream primary schools and in recognised special schools where Irish is not a curriculum requirement or for teaching pupils with special education needs in post-primary schools.

In relation to the recognition of qualifications under the terms of EU Directive 2005/36/EC, this Directive deals with the mobility of professionals including teachers within the EU. It requires that professionals recognised in one EU state must be afforded similar status when migrating to other EU Member States. The Teaching Council grants registration on the basis of qualifications which include teacher-education qualifications. When applying to the Teaching Council applicants must demonstrate comparability with Irish requirements and where substantial differences exist, conditions may be applied to any registration granted.

Relevant teaching experience may be taken into consideration where qualification shortfalls are identified or towards meeting post-qualification requirements (e.g. induction or probation).

A copy of the Regulations may be accessed on the Council's website.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons he is refusing to give any information in view of the fact that the review is now complete by the Information Commissioner regarding his Department's qualification the Secondary School Teacher's Drawing Certificate, issued to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W who met the conditions for this particular certificate in 1972 and who was awarded the certificate by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35686/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The person to whom the Deputy refers applied, under the Freedom of Information Acts, for access to records concerning the Secondary School Teacher's Drawing Certificate. The original decision was made on 14 February 2011 and a decision on internal review was made on 24 March 2011. Access to some records was granted while access to others was refused and certain provisions of the Act were relied upon in that respect.

The Department's internal review decision was appealed to the Office of the Information Commissioner. The Office of the Information Commissioner decided to affirm the decision of the Department on the 4th March 2013.