Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) with teaching qualifications from abroad will be allowed to apply for employment here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21722/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.

It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for 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. The Teaching Council recommend that teachers apply in advance of their planned return to or commencement of teaching in Ireland.

When recruiting people to teaching positions, employers must comply with the registration requirements of the Teaching Council Act and with S.I. No. 32/2014. Section 30 of the Teaching Council Acts requires that an applicant for a teaching position in a recognised school be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid from Oireachtas-voted funds.

Therefore the person referred to by the Deputy should liaise directly with the Teaching Council on this matter and the Teaching Council will be able to advise him on his application for registration to be able to teach here. Information on the process and what an applicant must do to get registered is available on the Teaching Council website at: