To assist with teacher supply challenges in the context of the public health situation, the Teaching Council announced that, on a timebound basis, primary and post-primary teachers who have qualified outside of Ireland are eligible to apply for registration and complete their induction here in Ireland.

Teachers must apply no later than 1 February 2024, to be eligible. The measure, a regulatory amendment order, was signed into law on 26 January by the Minister for Education Norma Foley TD, together with Chairperson of the Teaching Council, Michelle Keane, and the Acting Director of the Teaching Council, Phil Fox. It is a similar measure to previous regulatory orders implemented during the pandemic and its re-establishment forms part of wider ongoing initiatives to alleviate teacher supply issues.

This measure is particularly relevant for primary and post-primary teachers who have studied and qualified abroad and who may wish to return to the Irish education sector.

Further information is available on our website on how to apply for registration under this regulation.

The measures being implemented by the Teaching Council are focused on increasing the supply of registered teachers who are available to fill vacancies, including supervision and substitution roles.

Chair of the Teaching Council, Michelle Keane said: “We are grateful to the Minister for her consideration and approval of this regulatory order. This initiative is a welcome addition to ongoing measures designed to support our school communities and the teaching profession while ensuring that all necessary standards for teacher registration will continue to be observed.”

Acting Director of the Teaching Council, Phil Fox said: “The Teaching Council has appropriate resources in place for teacher registration, re-registration, and vetting, with a current register in excess of 118,000 teachers across primary, post-primary, further education and student teachers. This has grown each year since 2006 and is at its highest level in the history of the State. At present, each year there are up to 5,500 applicants for initial registration, who are eligible to teach in schools, resulting in a net growth of 3,600 registrants annually. There are widely acknowledged pressures on the availability of teachers at present given all prevailing circumstances. We will be promoting awareness of this further new regulatory initiative among the profession at home and abroad, in addition to other measures being implemented to support teacher supply and substitution requirements.”

Additional measures

Comments