INTO
FOR
Beginning Teachers
GUIDE TO TEACHING
IN THE
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
TEACHING IN THE REPUBLIC OF
IRELAND
For teachers trained in Northern Ireland, England & Wales:
Post-Primary School Teaching
Registration
Full details of teaching qualifications (all subjects and components detailed) with
original certificates and details of experience should be forwarded to the Secondary
Teachers’ Registration Council, Department of Education and Science, Cornamaddy,
Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Irish Qualification
No Irish Qualification is required unless one is teaching in an Irish Medium School or
in the Gaeltacht. Candidates require the Ceard Teastas Gaeilge for Irish-medium or
Gaeltacht schools. Full details are available from the Department of Education &
Science.
Primary School Teaching– Mainstream Schools
Registration
Full details of teaching qualifications (all subjects and components detailed) with
original certificates and details of experience should be forwarded to the Primary
Administration, Department of Education and Science, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co.
Westmeath.
Recognition
Provisional Recognition granted initially for a period of 5 years. The Irish
Qualification - Scrúdú Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge – needs to be obtained within a 5 year
period. Full recognition will be granted on obtaining the Irish qualification.
Graduates from St. Mary’s University College with a four-year degree, which
includes Academic Irish, are exempt from the Irish qualification, and will be granted
full recognition.
Graduates with a degree in Irish may also apply for an exemption from Module Two
(Irish Literature).
Special Education (Primary)
Registration
Full details of teaching qualifications (all subjects and components detailed) with
original certificates and details of experience should be forwarded to the Primary
Administration, Department of Education and Science, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co.
Westmeath.
Recognition
Restricted recognition will be granted to primary qualified teachers, which restricts
teachers to teaching in certain categories of Special Schools and Special Classes or
taking up Special Needs Resource Teaching Posts in mainstream primary schools.
Post primary qualified teachers may also take up teaching positions in special schools
that teach pupils aged 12-18, and where post primary education programmes are
taught.
The Irish Qualification (SCG)
Scrúdú Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (Primary)
Level:
Contents:
Between A-Level and Degree Level
4 exams, 2 written papers (1) language, (2) poetry and prose, and 1 oral
and 1 aural (inspection of teaching & cultural portfolio)
3-week period in Gaeltacht area on a recognised course
Time Scale: 5 years to obtain
May take 1 module or more per year. Resits are possible.
Exam:
April/May and October each year
Exemptions: Partial exemptions possible if one has spent time in Gaeltacht area as
part of a degree course or if one has a degree in Irish.
Appeals:
Results may be appealed.
Salary
Full, current details of salaries and deductions can be found on the INTO website
www.into.ie
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Graduates with 3-year degrees start at point 2 of the scale;
4-year graduates start at point 3 of the scale;
Progress by 1 point per year of experience (initially) to maximum point 25;
Allowances are payable in respect of extra educational qualification – e.g.
Bachelor Degree, Masters Degree, Special Education Diploma.
Additional allowances paid to teachers in Gaeltacht Schools, all-Irish Schools
and Island Schools;
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Opportunities for promotion arise in what are referred to as graded posts i.e.
Special Duties Teacher, Assistant Principal Teacher, Deputy Principal Teacher
and Principal Teacher;
Teachers are paid fortnightly (every second Thursday) by the Department of
Education & Science;
Teachers in Vocational Education Committee Schools (post-primary)are paid
monthly.
Probation
On first appointment, teachers serve a probationary period as follows:
- In the case of continuous service, satisfactory service of not less than 1 year’s
duration;
- In the case where service is not continuous, satisfactory service of not less
than 300 days duration in aggregate;
- DES inspector must furnish a satisfactory report on the teacher’s work during
this period.
School Year
Primary Schools
Teachers work a minimum of 183 days per year.
Post-Primary Schools
Teachers work a minimum of 167 days per year.
Applying for Jobs
Teaching jobs are advertised in the National Newspapers, particularly in the Irish
Independent, any day of the week and sometimes for a period of 1-2 days.
Also check local papers.
Substitute positions become known, generally by word of mouth.
INTO operates a substitute service for teachers in the Dublin area. Teachers available
for substitute work must register with the Substitute Section, INTO Head Office, 35
Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Substitute members attend Head Office at 8.30am and as
Principals phone requiring teachers, members are allocated jobs in turn.
Useful Website Addresses
www.into.ie
INTO
www.ncca.ie
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
www.education.ie
Department of Education and Science
www.pcsp.ie
Primary Curriculum Support Programme
www.teachingcouncil.ie General Teaching Council
INTO
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