Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a future Teaching Council CAR system; if the scheme will be re-opened to allow teachers to complete their induction here in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25765/24]

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 is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act and there are five routes of registration.

The amendment to the Teaching Council Registration Regulations enabling overseas qualified teachers to complete the required induction period in Ireland, was introduced as a temporary measure, initially during the pandemic, and reintroduced in 2023 to ease teacher supply issues. It enabled teachers who had not completed induction in the country in which they qualified, but who met particular criteria, to obtain registration in Ireland. This in turn gave them an opportunity to complete induction here. This is not the usual practice, as a fully-registered, overseas-qualified teacher, covered under EU mutual recognition of professional qualifications legislation, will in most jurisdictions have to complete induction in the country in which they obtained their qualification in order to be fully registered. The amendment regulation closed for applications on 1 February 2024, that date being defined in legislation.

A further Statutory Instrument would be required to establish this Regulation for a longer period, which under the Teaching Council Act is a matter for the Council.

Through engagement with the Council on this matter, I can advise that the Council is considering any further amendment to provide for the completion of induction in Ireland for overseas qualified teachers in the context of its legislative framework, including relevant EU legislation.

Any updates in this regard will be published on the Teaching Council website.