Website Communication
If you contact us through the Council’s website at www.teachingcouncil.ie, we will endeavour to:
• Acknowledge receipt of your query within three working days
• Provide you with a response in writing and/or by telephone within fifteen to twenty working days
In some cases, this will be an interim response, but we will advise you when a final response will issue.
• Ensure that all communications contain a staff contact name, telephone number and email address
Written Communication including Emails
If you contact us by letter or e-mail, we will endeavour to:
• Send you a written response acknowledging receipt of your query within three working days
• Provide you with a response in writing and/or by telephone within fifteen to twenty working days
• In some cases, this will be an interim response advising of when a final response will issue.
• Ensure that all written communications contain a staff contact name, telephone number and email address
Telephone Communication
If you contact us by telephone, we will endeavour to:
• Answer your call promptly during office hours listed, 10am-12pm & 3pm - 5pm.
• Give you our name and area of work when we answer
• Respond to voice messages as soon as possible
• Provide you with the information you require (please note that for data protection reasons, we are required to confirm the identity of registered teachers and applicants for registration (including vetting) by seeking three pieces of personal information before discussing registration /application details)
• Telephone you back if we are unable to deal with your query immediately
• Make it easy to contact us on +353 (1) 6517900
Call recording
Please note that a call recording system is in place and calls may be recorded for training and verification purposes.
Visiting the Teaching Council Office (Appointment Service)
In most cases, the general public, teachers, applicants, etc. will be able to conduct their business with us via email, telephone, letter or via our website, www.teachingcouncil.ie.
If however, you wish to visit our office, please note that an appointment service is in place.
Prior to an appointment being arranged by the Teaching Council, we will explore all necessary steps and explore all avenues to try and resolve your issue, in the interests of saving your time.
The appointment service will ensure that:
- A member of staff from the relevant section will be available to meet with you
- Suitable facilities for meetings will be provided
- The staff member concerned will have an understanding of your query and be in a position to deal with it promptly.
- You will be met punctually and avoid long waiting periods
- You will avoid disappointment in the event that a relevant member of staff is not available to meet with you
- The Teaching Council will ensure that our offices are accessible for people with disabilities
To make an appointment:
Communication with Suppliers
We will operate clear, impartial and transparent tendering and purchasing procedures in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines. We will ensure that payments to suppliers are made in accordance with Prompt Payment legislation and regulations.
Access to Records
When you avail of the statutory mechanisms supplied by the Freedom of Information Act 2014, the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations and the Data Protection legislation to seek access to records held by the Council, every effort will be made to make these available to you in the shortest possible timeframe.
Service through Irish
The Council makes specific provision for delivery of its services in the Irish language. In doing so, it is guided by the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 2003. The Council will endeavour to ensure that communication received in the Irish language (written and verbal), is responded to in the Irish language. A number of Council staff are proficient in Irish and will, where possible, address queries in Irish.
Social Media Communication
The Teaching Council uses social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat & Instagram, to update stakeholders on Council activities. Please note that these media platforms are a broadcast only service.
Equality/Diversity
We will make every effort to ensure that customers with specific needs are catered for in all our service delivery. We will make every effort to ensure that access to all areas of our buildings and to all of our services is maintained for people with disabilities and others with specific needs.
