Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 15 April 2014 if he will provide a date on which section 39 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 will be commenced; if he can confirm that this date has already been communicated to the Teaching Council; and if he accepts that until section 39 is commenced his Department is responsible for the quality and adequacy of the continuous professional development training being provided to teachers. [19155/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Teaching Council is aware of my intention that Section 39 of the Teaching Council Act will be commenced as soon as practicable after Part 5 (Fitness to Teach) which is expected to be commenced later this year following its amendment. Full collaboration with the Teaching Council will continue regarding commencement and implementation of the Act. No definite date for the commencement of Section 39 has been set.

It is my view that participation in CPD is part of a teacher's professional responsibility and teachers should avail of opportunities to engage in relevant CPD. There is a myriad of CPD possibilities available to teachers through HEIs, peer groups, online or private providers, self-directed learning and so on and many teachers opt to participate in these. My Department also provides comprehensive programmes of continuing professional development for teachers across a wide range of areas and will continue to quality assure this provision.