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 regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. As set out in the Schedule of the Regulations, the Council registers teachers under five routes of registration: Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the regulations.

Route 4 of the Regulations provides for individuals who hold recognised Special Education Teaching qualifications obtained outside the State and for individuals who have obtained a level 8 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications in Montessori Education in Ireland, to apply for registration with the Council. The 2016 Regulations contained a clause whereby Registration under the Montessori Education qualification will cease for graduates effective from 31 December 2023. Those already registered under this provision prior to that date will maintain their Registration status, including for renewals.

The most recent Teaching Council Annual Report 2021/2022 states that there are 1,374 teachers registered under Route 4.

There is currently no planned change to the statutory provision contained in the Teaching Council Registration Regulations 2016.