Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay for teachers returning from abroad to register with the Teaching Council; if the issue is being rectified; the expected waiting time for returning teachers to register with the council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8863/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers in this State.

It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications obtained by a person who has applied under this Act for registration as a teacher. A person who has completed teacher education qualifications outside the State and is seeking to register with the Teaching Council must have their qualifications assessed to determine that they are comparable and equivalent to accredited qualifications in Ireland. Where shortfalls are identified, a teacher may seek the advice of the Teaching Council as to how the shortfalls should be made up.   

Section 30 of the Teaching Council Acts requires that a teacher in a recognised school be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from public funds.

Teachers are registered by the Teaching Council under the terms of Statutory Instrument 444/2016 which provides for a number of routes to registration, including primary, post primary and further education.  In certain circumstances, as determined by the Teaching Council, registration may be granted with conditions.  

The Teaching Council advise that, for teachers qualified outside of Ireland, the assessment and registration process typically takes up to 12 weeks from receipt of all application documentation. The Teaching Council recommend that applicants apply in advance of their planned return to or commencement of teaching in Ireland to take account of the time that the registration process may take.