Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills why the Teaching Council of Ireland is proposing to abolish Regulation 3 which allows Association Montessori Internationale and Sarojini Naidu Medical College graduates to teach in special schools and classes and in resource and as substitutes in mainstream schools, the percentage of teaching staff in special schools who fall under Regulation 3, the educational basis and evidence supporting this decision and the time frame in which she expects this decision to be implemented. [45485/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Under the Teaching Council Act, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority for the registration of teachers. Teachers are registered under The Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009.

As the statutory professional standards body for teaching in Ireland, the Council is of the view that all teachers should be first and foremost qualified and registered as teachers in their given sector, whether primary or post primary.

The Deputy should note that the Teaching Council has not accredited any programmes from Sarojini Naidu Medical College. The data in relation to the employment of teachers in special needs schools is not available in my Department.

The Teaching Council is currently reviewing the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009 under the Teaching Council Act as amended in the Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015. The draft regulations will be submitted for the consent of the Minister in due course.