Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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247. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to request the Teaching Council to review its proposal to abolish regulation 3, which gives full recognition to Montessori teachers to teach all age groups in special schools, special classes and resource classes, given that Montessori educators have always been involved in special education here and have specific training in special education as part of their basic teacher training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9391/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for the regulation of the teaching profession including the registration of teachers under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015.

Under the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009, Regulation 3 (Montessori and other categories), graduates with certain Montessori qualifications (Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) are allowed to be registered as teachers to teach in certain restricted settings in recognized schools.

It is Department policy that all students are entitled to be taught first and foremost by fully qualified, registered teachers. The revision to the registration regulations is in accordance with this policy and it is intended that the revised regulations will provide for the recognition of graduates of the 59 reconceptualised programmes of initial teacher education which are now accredited by the Council as qualifying persons to teach in Ireland. The Deputy should note that all graduates of initial teacher education programmes from summer 2016 onwards will have studied SEN modules under the Council's standards for these programmes.

Further to significant stakeholder engagement following publication of its draft revised registration regulations in 2014, the Teaching Council intends to continue to provide for persons currently registered with the Council under Regulation 3 on the basis of holding a level 8 Montessori qualification. The Council also intends to allow for the registration of persons who obtain a level 8 Montessori qualification, where the course is commenced on or before 1 October 2016 and the qualification is obtained before the end of 2021.

The Department has no plans to change the current position whereby teachers who are registered with a level 8 Montessori qualification under Regulation 3 (or its equivalent in the new regulations) are eligible for employment as teachers of pupils with special education needs in recognized mainstream primary schools and special schools.