313. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications for Teaching Council registration received from teachers qualified outside the State in the past five years; the number of applicants found to have qualification shortfalls; the average time taken to process such applications; whether the impact of these requirements on teacher recruitment and supply has been assessed; and what measures are being considered to recognise substantial verified teaching experience gained overseas and facilitate experienced teachers returning to the Irish education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54342/26]

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 registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2025 (www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2025/10/SI.2025.0482_TC_Registration_Regulations.pdf). 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 qualification requirements for each route are set down in the Schedule of the Regulations.

As a statutory body, the Teaching Council is mandated by law to properly determine and to authenticate the relevant standards and qualifications of all applicants for registration, including those who have qualified outside of Ireland. My department has no role in relation to individual teacher registration.

The Teaching Council receives approximately 680 eligible applications annually from teachers who have qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland (ROI).

Given the importance and impact of teaching on the lives of learners, the Teaching Council has a responsibility to safeguard standards in a way that supports quality teaching and learning. The Council also has a responsibility to ensure that all registered teachers have met the required standards. Therefore, the qualifications of teachers who qualified outside of ROI are assessed to ensure they are of a comparable standard to those achieved by graduates of accredited Initial Teacher Education programmes in the ROI.

The Teaching Council currently has two dedicated application pathways for teachers who have qualified outside of the ROI:

1. Recognition Applications assessed in line with the EU Directive 2005/36/EC

Fully qualified teachers who have qualified as teachers outside of the ROI and who are eligible to teach in the country in which they obtained their qualification, can apply for recognition as a teacher with the Teaching Council. A person is deemed a fully qualified teacher if they have completed a recognised teacher education qualification and completed any required programme of induction in the country in which they have been awarded their qualification. A person must provide an official letter confirming they are a fully qualified teacher from the relevant teacher registration body or Competent Authority in that country.

All applications from fully qualified teachers who qualified outside of the ROI are processed in line with the EU Directive 2005/36/EU, regardless of whether the applicant qualified within or outside of the EU. Once an application is received, the Council will assess the applicant's qualification to ensure that it is of a comparable standard to accredited programmes in the ROI. All applications are assessed individually and in a holistic manner taking into account the individual’s qualifications, professional learning and teaching experience.

Where qualification shortfalls are identified, the individual teacher may register with the condition of addressing the qualification shortfalls within a three-year period.  The teacher will be given the option of addressing the shortfalls via an aptitude test or adaptation period. Further details on this process can be found on the Teaching Council website.

From 28 March 2021 to 27 March 2026, 2,898 teachers who qualified outside of Ireland have completed their registration with the Teaching Council. All teachers who qualify outside of the ROI are registered with the condition of completion of the Irish Language Requirement (primary teachers) or the History & Structure of the Irish Education System (post-primary teachers). Further to the assessment process, applicants may also have other qualification shortfalls identified.

In line with EU Directive 2005/36/EC, applicants are advised that the application process may take up to 12 weeks from receipt of all required documentation. The current average processing timeline is 7 weeks for primary applicants and 8 weeks for post-primary applicants. The average processing timelines since 2023 are as follows:

2. Recognition Application received under the Timebound Provision (formerly the COVID-Amendment Regulation)

Since 2020 the Council implemented various measures to support schools including the COVID-Amendment Regulations and the recent Timebound Provision Regulation. These regulations allow teachers who qualified in another country, but have not completed the necessary induction there, to apply to register with the Teaching Council (in certain limited circumstances) and to complete induction here in the ROI. To be eligible for registration under these regulations provision, teachers must have completed a teacher education qualification outside of the country that is of an equivalent standard to an Irish teacher education qualification. This means that no qualification shortfalls should be identified between their teacher education qualification and that of the Irish standard, save for the Irish Language Requirements for primary teachers and History & Structure of the Irish Education System for post primary teachers.

From 28 March 2021 to 27 March 2026, 488 teachers who qualified outside of Ireland have completed their registration with the Teaching Council under the COVID-Amendment Regulations or the Timebound Provision Regulation.

The Teaching Council is independent in its registration function and is best placed to answer any query that an individual may have in relation to assessment of their qualifications.