Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will be reinstated to their position as a career guidance councillor in view of the fact the Teaching Council regulations do not prevent them from being appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40668/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).

In accordance with Department Circular 31/ 2011, which is available on the Department’s website under , schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired. These measures were taken in an effort to increase employment opportunities for unemployed teachers.

The following are the minimum requirements for employment as a teacher as detailed in the above circular:

a) Be registered with the Teaching Council in accordance with Part 3 of the Teaching Council Act 2001

And

b) Have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which s/he is to be employed (referred to in this circular as “appropriately qualified”).

In accordance with circular PPT12/05 a guidance counsellor should be a qualified second-level teacher and in addition should hold qualifications in guidance as set out in this circular.