Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Teaching Council will allow the registration of a person (details supplied) to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30758/20]

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.

In unique cases where an applicant for registration cannot source some or all of the original documentation relating to qualifications, the Director of the Teaching Council has the discretion to allow the applicant to provide a sworn affidavit that confirms they have successfully completed the qualification that forms part of the basis of the application for registration. In this process, the applicant must satisfy the Director of efforts made to locate documentation. Where the Director approves the affidavit, the Teaching Council Qualifications Panel, comprising members of the Teaching Council, will review the application.

The Teaching Council have informed me that they will contact the person referred to by the Deputy in relation to their option to provide a sworn affidavit.