Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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690. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied with the registration of teaching qualifications from the United Kingdom, and elsewhere; that the Teaching Council and her Department are in compliance with the principles of the European Union directive on the recognition of professional qualifications, 2005/36/EC; her views on the requirement to complete additional training modules; that these are proportionate; that they take account of the applicants professional experience; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34730/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Teaching Council is the competent authority in Ireland for assessing applications for registration from people who qualified as teachers in Ireland and in other EU/EAA countries.

In accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC, people who qualified as teachers in one EU member state, are entitled to have their qualifications recognised in all other member states. This recognition may be granted subject to conditions, including making good any shortfalls.

Under the terms of the Directive, a teacher is not deemed to be fully qualified (in compliance with the Directive) until he/she has completed his/her programme of initial teacher education and any period of post-qualification professional practice required in the state where he/she qualified. A teacher who has not completed an approved induction/probation year is not deemed fully qualified and is not entitled to the benefits of the Directive.

Accordingly, if a person travels to another EU member state to complete a teacher education qualification (with a commencement date after 1st January 2011) and returns to Ireland without completing the induction year (i.e. without being deemed fully qualified in that member state), the Council cannot register this person under the terms of the EU Directive as a primary or post-primary teacher. The Council would therefore advise such persons to complete the induction year in the country where the teaching qualification was awarded prior to applying for registration with the Teaching Council. They will then benefit from the provisions of the Directive and will be registered within the timeframes as set out within the Directive.

EU/EEA qualified teachers must have their qualifications assessed by the Teaching Council to ensure they meet the qualifications criteria set out in the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009. Their qualifications must be of a comparable standard to those of teacher education qualifications already recognised in Ireland. Assessors expert in the relevant subject/curricular area carry out these assessments on behalf of the Council. Where gaps are identified in qualifications, induction/probation, experience or CPD may fulfil the shortfall. In this way experience, continuing professional development and the more formal qualifications are reviewed as part of the standard qualifications review. These steps are required to ensure that professional standards are upheld in the teaching profession.

The Teaching Council applies the same standards across applications which are subject to the EU Directive and non-EU applications, and I am satisfied with regard to the Council's compliance with the principles of the EU Directive. If the Deputy is aware of a particular case relevant to this issue, he may wish to bring it to the Council's attention.