Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Teaching Council is the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications for those who qualified as teachers outside of Ireland. The Teaching Council adheres to the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015, the Teaching Council Registration Regulations (2016) and in its role as a competent authority, it operates in accordance with the EU Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EU as amended). As a statutory professional standards body, the Teaching Council is required by law to properly determine and to authenticate the relevant standards and qualifications of all applicants for registration.

Fully qualified teachers are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council. The Council registers teachers under four Routes of Registration; Route 1 Primary, Route 2 Post-primary, Route 3 Further Education and Route 4 Other.

It should be noted that the Department under statute has no direct role in individual applications and in all cases applicants should engage to the fullest extent with the Council.

In this instance, the Teaching Council has advised that the person referred to in the Deputy's question submitted an application for registration in July 2023.

Everyone who works with children and vulnerable people is legally required to be vetted by the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons Acts 2012 to 2016) and as such vetting is a requirement for all teachers applying for registration with the Council. Applicants for registration who have lived overseas for a cumulative period of 12 months or more after the age of 18 must provide a photocopy of police clearance for each country in which they have resided. These clearance certificates must cover the entire period of residence in each country.

The person referred to was advised by email from the Teaching Council in August 2023 that police clearance from their previous country of residence is required to complete the vetting process. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the required information to the Council.

The Teaching Council has also advised that the application for registration of the person referred to will be prioritised as soon as vetting is fully completed.