Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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424. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by individuals such as a person (details supplied) who is having difficulties in re-registering with the Teaching Council; and if she will contact the Teaching Council to request if it can help resolve the issue for this and other similar applicants. [43553/21]

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.

The Teaching Council registers teachers in line with the requirements set out in the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations 2016. 

The Teaching Council is responsible for the maintenance of the Register of Teachers in Ireland as set out in the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 in line with the Teaching Council (Registration) Regulations (SI 444).  The Schedule in the Regulations sets out the qualifications required for registration under four routes of registration; Primary, Post-primary, Further Education and Route 4 Other.  All registrants under Route 2 Post-primary are required to hold an accredited teacher education qualifications (TEQ) appropriate to their route of registration in addition to appropriate qualification for a post-primary curricular subject. The criteria for post-primary curricular subject requirements (valid until December 2022) are available on the Council’s website.

Post-primary teachers who were registered in 2006 on establishment day under Section 31(2) &(3) of the Teaching Council Acts were initially entered onto the register without post-primary subjects. Following a verification exercise, each teacher provided the information necessary to add subjects to their registrations. In a small number of instances teachers did not provide the requested information but remained registered under without subjects.

Where a teacher who was previously registered lapses from the register and subsequently re-applies for registration under post-primary they must be registered under Section 31(5) of the Teaching Council Acts and the Registration Regulations 2016. This requires the teacher to submit a full application form including evidence of having attained the appropriate teacher education qualification and qualifications in a post-primary curricular subject. In addition to the qualification evidence, the applicant must also submit a completed vetting invitation form and where appropriate submit police clearances.

Applications for registration can only be finalised where all the necessary processes have been completed e.g. full application form, qualification evidence provided and the full vetting process completed (which may include the provision of overseas police clearances).

The Teaching Council have informed me that they have been in contact with the applicant referred to by the Deputy regarding their case and will make further contact.

The person referred to by the Deputy should continue to liaise directly with the Teaching Council and follow their guidance in order to meet the criteria to obtain full registration.