Teaching Council of Ireland
Seanad Éireann — 2026-06-23
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Michael Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West

We have to ensure the Teaching Council is an independent regulatory body and that it carries out its independent registration function. Neither I nor any Department has a role in that because it has to be very much independent. By being so independent, its authority and status is upheld.
The Department has advised me the average processing time for registration of qualifications gained outside the Republic of Ireland is seven weeks from receipt of completed applications. Directive 2005/36/EC says it must be done within 12 weeks.
The Senator made a number of points regarding the point of contact. That is something I will take back. I will give that information back to the Teaching Council. I can pass the information on and ask that it be dealt with in a timely manner but the overriding concern is to ensure the Teaching Council is independent of the political system and Department, because it is making sure all is in order and that, at post-primary and all levels, the best qualified teachers are in schools.
The Senator mentioned an application made in May 2025. That is 13 months ago at this stage. I will try to ask if perhaps we could get the Teaching Council to directly liaise with the Senator. It would be inappropriate for it to be liaising with me. Maybe it will clarify that question and also provide a point of contact. Many teachers in primary, post-primary and special schools - and indeed special classes - have qualifications from outside the Republic of Ireland and meet the criteria. It is important because we see some great standards and excellent people who have qualified. There are some anomalies in the system as well. I will ask them to liaise directly with the Senator or his constituent. Also, a point of contact would be important for anybody making an application.
It is not possible to state whether a qualification will, of itself, meet the requirements. That is important to stress. I will endeavour to ask them to liaise directly with the Senator.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-06-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-23