Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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1000. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of qualified teachers, members of the Teaching Council, who operate in post-leaving certificate colleges, and the number of unqualified teaching staff, and the reason unqualified persons are allowed to work as teachers. [22281/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The PLC programme is operated mainly by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and the staff in PLC are employed by each ETB. My Department does not hold current data on the number of staff employed in PLC or on their qualifications.

Section 30 of The Teaching Council Act 2014 which was commenced on 28 January 2014, provides that teachers in recognised schools, including PLC teachers, must be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid by the State (save in limited, exceptional circumstances).

In the lead-up to the commencement of Section 30, it was recognised that there were posts in certain subject areas which were occupied by people who were not qualified teachers but whose posts had traditionally been classified as teaching posts. In some such cases, teaching qualifications are not required or appropriate. In other cases, a primary degree or equivalent qualification recognised by the Teaching Council in the subject area in question was not available, giving rise to concerns about the ongoing supply of qualified staff.

There are, therefore, posts that can be filled by people with appropriate qualifications or experience without an approved teaching qualification. It is in the educational interests of students that the people delivering the courses have appropriate qualifications or experience, and it is in the public interest that such courses and activities can continue.

In that regard, certain posts in PLC colleges/schools were reclassified as tutor posts and are therefore no longer regarded as teaching posts. The holders of these posts are not subject to the requirements of section 30. PLC courses/modules re-designated to be delivered by a tutor include Beauty Therapy, Hairdressing, Security Studies, Animal Care/Grooming and First Aid.

There is also provision for the employment of industry or sectoral experts to deliver programme content where this is deemed necessary. Staff in these areas are employed as tutors or on a contract for service.