Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours a person (details supplied) has completed in both national school and in secondary school since their time registered with her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55726/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that it is expected that all teachers who are employed in schools, or who are working in substitute capacity, are registered with the Teaching Council, which includes amongst other things having a teaching qualification.

Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act commenced on 1 November 2013 and took effect on 28 January 2014. From then, all teachers in recognised schools must be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be paid by the State. At the same time the Minister made regulations (further to amendment of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act 2001 in the Education (Amendment) Act 2012), to enable a school in urgent or unforeseen circumstances e.g. to avoid closure of a school or cancellation of classes, to employ, for up to five consecutive days at a time, a person who is not registered as a teacher with the Teaching Council.

I can advise you that a statement of service has now been sent to the individual concerned, which notes the number of hours which have been completed by her in primary, secondary, community and comprehensive schools, to date. Should the individual have been employed by the Educational Training Board (ETB) she will need to contact them directly to obtain a statement of her service.