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What's New?
Adaptation Period Option Now Available
[ Thursday, 3rd December 2009 ]
To coincide with the publication The Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2009, which were signed into force by the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, on 18 November last, the Council can confirm that an alternative means of addressing a shortfall in the Irish language requirement - the Adaptation Period- is now available.
Developed by the Council in conjunction with the Department of Education and Science and Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, the Adaptation Period (Oiriúnú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge –OCG) allows the Council to fulfil its obligations under EU Directive 2005/36/EC. In accordance with that directive, applicants with a shortfall in the Irish Language Requirement, which is applied as a condition to their teacher registration, must be afforded the choice of addressing same by means of an Aptitude Test or Adaptation Period.
Both the existing Aptitude Test (SCG) option and the new Adaptation Period (OCG) are facilitated by Coláiste Mhuire, Marino and full details can be found on the website www.ilrweb.ie or by phoning the college’s Irish Language Requirement office at 01 8535143/8535134.
For new registration applications, where the Irish Language Requirement is applied as a condition/shortfall, applicants must successfully complete either option within a maximum of 3 years, as specified in the EU Directive. Failure to do so will result in registration lapsing.*
The Council has written to registered teachers who have an Irish Language Requirement condition attaching to their registration advising them of the new Adaptation Period and asking them to confirm their preferred option for addressing their shortfall. Teachers are been asked to return these option forms by 20 December 2009.
*Note: The practice which operated in the past, whereby teachers failing to successfully address the Irish Language Requirement were granted restricted recognition, as defined in Department of Education and Science Circular Letter 25/00, will no longer be available to new applicants for registration.
