New powers designed to help the Teaching Council deal with underperforming teachers will be published shortly.
The Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, is set to strengthen the regulatory body's powers, introducing a range of new sanctions to deal with below par teachers.
Up until now, a teacher had to be deemed 'unfit to teach' before the Teaching Council could impose any sanctions.
The new sanctions will range from advice, admonishment or censure to suspension or removal from the Teaching Council’s register.
Under the new legislation, teachers won't be paid unless they have registered with the Teaching Council, but they will be allowed to appeal to the High Court if their registration is refused.
Education Minister Ruairí Quinn says the new sanctions will give the regulatory body powers more in line with those available to other professional regulators.
He has described it as a positive step in the full professionalisation of teaching.
