Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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97. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the NCCA will include courses in special needs education including qualifications in behaviour analysis as criterion for teacher registration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23947/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The Teaching Council registers teachers in accordance with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations 2016, which outlines the requirements for registration under each of four routes to registration (Primary, Post-primary, Further Education and Other).

Under section 38 of the Teaching Council Act, all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes in Ireland that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council. The mandatory requirements for accreditation are set out in the Teaching Council's criteria and guidelines for programme providers.

Under these criteria, student teachers in all accredited programmes are required to undertake study of inclusive education, including special education, and this applies to all primary and post-primary teachers. The standards for programmes of ITE have recently been revised and were published in Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education (2020) in October 2020. The standards set Inclusive Education as one of the seven core elements which must underpin all aspects of the programme of ITE.

The support service of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, delivers a range of professional development initiatives and support for teachers working with students with special educational needs. Moreover, all the Department's support services, such as the Professional Development Service for Teachers, are required by the Department to have regard to the individual needs of all learners, in designing and delivering CPD for teachers.