Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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277. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if teachers registered under regulation 3 who are holders of AMI or level 7 St. Nicholas qualifications will remain unaffected by changes to these routes of registration, as per the Teaching Council advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21092/16]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he envisages that all of the teaching positions for special schools and special classes in mainstream schools will be filled given the intention to end the route of regulation 3 registration with the Teaching Council in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21094/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 279 together.

The Teaching Council is, since 2006, the statutory regulator and standards body for the teaching profession.

It is intended that, under the revised Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations, Regulation 3 (Montessori and Other Categories) will be accommodated under Route 4. Under this route of registration a teacher currently registered under Regulation 3 may maintain his/her registration on the basis of the qualification which was recognised in order for the Teaching Council to register him/her initially. Teachers holding level 7 Montessori qualifications who are currently registered will be accommodated as part of this provision.

The Deputy should note that my Department has no plans to change the current position whereby a teacher who is currently registered with a Montessori qualification under Regulation 3 (or its equivalent in the revised regulations) is eligible for employment as a teacher of pupils with special education needs in recognised mainstream primary schools and special schools. The Deputy will be aware that all teachers who have achieved full registration with the Council are eligible to teach across all settings including mainstream and special education settings. I do not envisage that there will be a difficulty filling teaching positions in special classes and special schools.