Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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134. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are remaining sections of the Teaching Council Act to be commenced; the timeframe for commencing such sections; and the number of fitness to teach complaints received and processed to date since he commenced these provisions in July 2016. [10675/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The only remaining section of the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 to be commenced is Section 39, which deals with continuing education and training and professional development of teachers.  I am advised by the Teaching Council that Cosán, the national framework for teacher’s learning (CPD) has entered a development phase which is due to conclude in 2020. This will then pave the way for the commencement of this section of the Act.

I commenced the sections of the Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015 relating to fitness to teach in July 2016. The Deputy will appreciate that the fitness to teach process is independent of my Department and she should contact the Council directly for information on the number of complaints received.

The Deputy should note that, under Section 55 of the Teaching Council Act, the Council is obliged to submit an annual report of its activities and proceedings under the Act to me as Minister. Fitness to teach was commenced on 25 July 2016, during the current reporting year. I look forward to the next annual report which will be due after 28 March next.