Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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397. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider providing Professional Masters of Education options for 3rd level drama, theatre and film studies graduates who wish to pursue a career in teaching and to gain recognition from the Teaching Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7295/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There is a curricular subject requirement for registration under ‘Route 2: Post-primary’ which falls under the Teaching Council’s statutory functions set out in Section 31(5) of the Teaching Council Act 2001 and Route 2 of the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2016:

‘A person who applies to be entered on the register on the basis of qualifications as a post-primary teacher shall satisfy the Council that he or she.......... satisfies the requirements for at least one curricular subject as published by the Council on its website at the time of the application.’ {emphasis added}

The Curricular Subject Requirements document, as published by the Teaching Council (TC), defines “curricular subject” as “A subject with a prescribed syllabus approved by the Department of Education and examined by the State Examinations Commission”.

Drama, Film and Theatre Studies is currently undergoing the registration process to be added as a new curricular subject at post-primary level. There are a number of stages to the registration process, namely, Development & Consultation, Teaching Council stages of approval, Ministerial sign-off and Operational implementation. Drama, Film and Theatre Studies is currently in the Teaching Council stages of approval. Unfortunately, due to the multiple stages involved, I am unable to provide a definitive timeline on when the registration process will be complete