Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
407. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the implementation of the proposed timebound provision for transferring teachers from route 3 to route 1 of the Teaching Council register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57079/25]
View answerThe Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2025. 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.
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 is the regulator of the teaching profession in Ireland. Its role is to protect the public by promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching. This is carried out through the statutory registration of teachers, ensuring a highly qualified teaching profession, whose members meet and uphold high standards of professional competence and conduct.
There is no mechanism whereby a teacher can transfer route with the Teaching Council. The Council may suggest another route to the route being applied for if that seems to align with the qualifications, or a teacher may apply for a different route if they gain additional qualifications. Teachers can also be registered under more than one route, but it is the obligation of the teacher to apply for the route or routes of registration. It should be noted that in accordance with statute, the Department has no role in the registration of individual teachers.
To assist with teacher supply challenges, in the Teaching Council’s recently revised Registration Regulations, 2025, which were effected on 16 October 2025, a Timebound Provision has been created which provides for teachers who completed a teacher education qualification in another country, but have not completed the necessary induction there, to apply for registration to the Teaching Council and to complete Droichead (induction) here in the Republic of Ireland. Specific eligibility and qualification requirement apply to this timebound provision. This timebound provision is open to receipt of applications until 30 December 2027. Anyone wishing to avail of this must complete their programme of study and submit a complete application before this date. They must also meet the specific eligibility and qualification requirements. Further information in relation to the timebound provision including the eligibility criteria can be located here:
www.teachingcouncil.ie/qualified-outside-of-ireland-induction-not-complete/#eligibility-requirements
Applications for the Timebound Provision will be accepted from 9am on Wednesday, 22 October 2025.
