Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reopen consultation on regulation 3 of the Teaching Council’s regulations to facilitate stakeholders in submitting their views prior to the proposed changes coming into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14555/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Since 2006, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for 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 recognised schools.

Lengthening and reconfiguring the programmes of initial teacher education is a key component of the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020. These changes were incorporated into the Teaching Council's Policy Paper on the Continuum of Teacher Education, which set the criteria for providers of initial teacher education.

A revision to the registration regulations was required to provide for the recognition of graduates of the 59 reconceptualised programmes of initial teacher education which are accredited by the Council as qualifying persons to teach in Ireland. Following significant stakeholder engagement, revised regulations were drawn up by the Teaching Council.

The revised regulations also give effect to changes made in the Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015, such as the placing of the Garda vetting of new teachers on a statutory footing. They provide for persons currently registered with the Council under Regulation 3 on the basis of holding a level 8 Montessori qualification and 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 regulations were recently provided to my Department for my consent and approval.

The Deputy should note that my 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 recognised mainstream primary schools and special schools.