Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the recognition of experience for teachers who obtained their qualifications outside of Ireland; and the measures being taken to recognise such qualifications. [4041/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the . 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 registration requirements for each route are set out in the .

Fully qualified teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration with the Teaching Council. The qualifications of these teachers are assessed on an individual and holistic basis for the purposes of registering as a teacher.

Qualifications are assessed for comparability with graduates of initial teacher education programmes accredited by the Teaching Council. A person deemed to be a fully qualified teacher has completed a recognised teacher education qualification and programme of induction in the country in which they qualified and can provide an official letter from the relevant teacher registration body/ Competent Authority or Ministry of Education confirming recognition as a fully qualified teacher in that State/ country. More information is available on the Council’s website here: .

In relation to the recognition of teaching service gained by teachers who have taught in schools outside of Ireland towards an award of incremental credit, the criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).

These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of teaching service and relevant non-teaching service where the teachers satisfy the criteria. Teachers must be on the Department’s payroll or teaching in an Education and Training Board school before an application can be processed.