Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details on the collaborative agreement that has been reached by the Marino Institute of Education and the University of Ulster on the provision of assistance and support to students from the Six Counties and Border region wishing to undertake the Scurdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaelighe and Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaelighe; and the efforts that are being made by his Department to facilitate the delivery of language qualification from TCI to St. Mary’s College, Belfast. [50108/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Teaching Council of Ireland is the designated authority for the recognition of qualifications under the terms of the EU Directive and the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications obtained outside of the EU. I understand that Marino Institute of Education and the University of Ulster have agreed to collaborate to assist and support candidates in the North of Ireland and border regions wishing to undertake the Irish Language Requirement (S.C.G./O.C.G.).

To date, Marino Institute of Education has provided approved Aptitude Tests and supervised Adaptation Periods for teachers under their programmes of An Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (S.C.G.) and the Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge – Tréimhse Oiriúnaithe (O.C.G.). Discussions have previously taken place between my Department, the Department of Education Northern Ireland, the Teaching Council and St. Mary's College, Belfast with regard to compensation measures for the Irish Language Requirement (ILR). The Council intends to define a framework by the end of the first quarter in 2014 within which it will recognise adaptation periods and aptitude tests for applicants who are registered with the registration condition of the Irish Language Requirement (ILR).