479. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she has considered directing the Teaching Council and higher education institutions to examine flexible, part-time or employment-based initial teacher education programmes for individuals already employed within schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64147/26]

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.

It is a function of the Council under the Teaching Council Acts (s7(2)) to act as the competent authority for recognition of qualifications obtained by a person who has applied under this Act for registration as a teacher.

All programmes of initial teacher education in Ireland that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council. The standards for programmes of ITE, which were revised in 2020, are published in Céim: Standards for Initial Teacher Education (2020): www.teachingcouncil.ie/assets/uploads/2023/08/ceim-standards-for-initial-teacher-education.pdf

The Teaching Council operates its programme review and accreditation processes of programmes of initial teacher education in line with the Centres of Excellence framework for ITE as outlined in the Department of Education and Youth’s Policy Statement 2023.

Each Higher Education Institution (HEIs) providing ITE programmes is responsible for the organisation of these programmes. It is open to HEIs to deliver these programmes in a flexible manner, within the Teaching Council standards and guidelines.

ITE courses are available to anyone wishing to undertake them, providing they meet the entry requirements. This includes people who are already employed in schools.