Information for Teachers

As the regulator for the teaching profession, we are legally required to look into complaints about teachers registered with us. This is set out in Part 5 of the Teaching Council Acts, 2001-2015.

Any person including members of the public, employers and other teachers, may make a complaint about a teacher registered with the Teaching Council using this complaint form. In addition, the Teaching Council can itself make a complaint about a registered teacher.

Teachers and members of the public can check if a teacher is registered with the Teaching Council by searching the Register.

No, in order for complaints to be considered, our legislation requires that they must be presented in writing and signed.

We can only consider complaints in relation to registered teachers.

We can look into complaints on a number of grounds including:

1. professional misconduct
2. poor professional performance
3. engaging in conduct contrary to the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers
4. being medically unfit to teach
5. a court conviction for certain offences
6. failing to comply with, or contravening a provision of the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015, the Education Act, 1998, the Education Welfare Act, 2000, the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013, and any regulations, rules or orders made under those Acts
7. failing to comply with an undertaking or to take any action specified in a consent given to a panel of the Disciplinary Committee at an inquiry,
8. erroneous registration due to a false or fraudulent declaration or misrepresentation.

The grounds of complaint can be found at section 42 of the Teaching Council Acts, 2001-2015.

In addition, the Teaching Council itself may make a complaint to the Investigating Committee in certain instances arising from:

1. information contained in a vetting disclosure received by the Council on behalf of school employers or potential employers
2. information contained in an overseas disciplinary notification
3. information having come to the attention of the Council whether through the media or otherwise.

The commencement date of Part 5 of the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 was 25 July 2016. We can generally only consider complaints where the matters complained about took place on or after 25 July 2016.

For complaints relating to professional misconduct and where the events took place before 25July 2016, the Investigating Committee can only decide to proceed to consider and investigate the complaint in exceptional circumstances. The Committee is only entitled to proceed where it believes that:

a)      The conduct complained of is conduct that, if proven, would have constituted a criminal offence at the time that it occurred, and

b)      The conduct is of such a nature as to reasonably give rise to a bona fide concern that a child or vulnerable person may be physically, sexually or emotionally exploited or abused.

For a complaint to be referred by our Investigating Committee to our Disciplinary Committee, the complaint must be of a serious nature.

We cannot:

1. look into complaints about anyone who is not a registered teacher
2. pay compensation or help to make a claim for compensation
3. ask the school or the teacher’s employer to look into a complaint
4. ask the teacher’s employer to speak to the teacher
5. make a teacher apologise to a complainant
6. give legal or professional advice or representation
7. order a teacher to do something for the complainant
8. resolve any issues that a complainant has with a school or organisation
9. consider a complaint before the school’s disciplinary procedures (established under section 24 of the Education Act, 1998) have been exhausted (or come to an end) unless the Investigating Committee believes that there are good and sufficient reasons.

Yes, we can consider complaints about certain matters that happened outside Ireland on grounds including professional misconduct, poor professional performance and convictions for certain offences.

Yes, we can consider complaints about certain matters that relate to conduct outside the course of your teaching profession on grounds such as convictions for certain offences, and, where the conduct is of such a serious nature as would bring the profession into disrepute.

Yes, a complaint against you can relate to any school related professional activity or any activity or role undertaken in your capacity as a registered teacher.

Each complaint will vary but we aim to have a decision made by the Investigating Committee within six to nine months of the date that we receive a complaint.

If the Investigating Committee decides to refer the complaint to the Disciplinary Committee for an inquiry, we aim to hold the inquiry within six months of the date of this referral.

There may be reasons outside our control which lead to delays in investigating complaints. For example, a complaint could be the subject of an investigation by An Garda Síochána, and the Investigating Committee may decide to pause its own investigation until the conclusion of the Garda investigation, which may take some time. We will keep you updated while the complaint is being considered.

What is an inquiry?

In most cases, an inquiry will take the form of an oral hearing before a panel of the Disciplinary Committee. It is similar to a hearing before a court or tribunal. Witnesses give evidence under oath.

However, you can ask that the inquiry take place by an examination of the relevant documents and written submissions rather than as an oral hearing. In addition, the panel of the Disciplinary Committee can ask you to consent to the inquiry taking place by an examination of the relevant documents and written submissions. An inquiry by examination of relevant documents and written submissions takes place in private with no parties present.  

The panel of the Disciplinary Committee will decide which approach is suitable. In most cases, an oral hearing will take place, especially where facts are disputed, or are at issue.

Where will the oral hearing take place?

Most hearings take place at the Teaching Council offices at Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Occasionally, hearings may be held elsewhere. Before the hearing, we will write to you with the location, date and time that you should attend.

How is the oral hearing prepared?

Representatives of the Director of the Teaching Council will be responsible for preparing and presenting the evidence to the panel at the hearing. The Director is required to prove the complaint at the hearing. The Director will usually get solicitors to help. The Director and solicitors will gather evidence such as reports, correspondence and written witness statements.

Before the hearing, we will send you:

• a Notice of Inquiry containing the allegations against you
• copies of all of the evidence, and
• a list of witnesses whom the Director will call to give evidence.

Will the oral hearing be held in public or private?

Hearings take place in public unless you or a witness about whom personal matters may be disclosed requests the panel to hold the hearing or part of the hearing in private, and the panel is satisfied that it would be appropriate to do so. If a hearing is held in public, the panel may keep your identity or the identity of the other people involved, confidential.

Can I question witnesses, or can my representatives do so if I am represented?

Yes, the Director or their representatives will call a witness to give evidence and will first ask the witness questions based on their signed statement. You or your representatives will then be given a chance to ask questions, following which, the panel may ask some questions. This same process applies for all of the witnesses called by the Director or their representatives.

Can I call witnesses or can my representatives do so if I am represented?

Yes, you or your representatives can also call your own witnesses to give evidence. The Director or their representatives and the panel will be able to question your witnesses.

Do I have to give evidence?

No, it is up to you to decide whether to give evidence.

Who will be present in the hearing room?

The panel of the Disciplinary Committee – this will include three to five people, who are members of the Disciplinary Committee. One member of the panel will act as Chairperson.

The Legal Assessor – this is a barrister who will sit with the panel and advise them about legal or procedural issues. The Legal Assessor does not decide whether the complaint has been proven. This is a matter for the panel only.

The Director’s legal representatives – these may include solicitors or barristers who will present the case on behalf of the Director.

The Teaching Council staff – these will include relevant staff of the Teaching Council.

You, the registered teacher

Your representatives – these may include legal, union or other representatives who may act and speak on your behalf. They will put your position to the panel and will question the witnesses about their evidence. If you do not have representatives, you may defend your own case.

The stenographer – this person records all the evidence given at the hearing.

The public – If the inquiry is held in public, there may be members of the public including journalists present to watch and listen to the proceedings. They usually sit at the back of the hearing room.

What will the panel do when the inquiry finishes?

Regardless of whether the inquiry takes place as an oral hearing or as an examination of relevant document and written submissions, the panel will prepare a report at the end of the inquiry. The report will say whether the complaint has been proven. Usually, complaints have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at inquiry.

What could happen to me if the complaint is proven?

If the complaint is proven, the panel will have to decide whether to impose a sanction (penalty).

The panel could decide to:

a)      advise, admonish or censure you

b)      place conditions on your registration

c)       suspend you from the Register for a specified period of time (up to two years)

(This would mean that you would not be able to teach in a position funded by the Department of Education and Skills for the time that you are suspended from the Register.)

d)      remove you from the Register and not allow you to apply to be restored to the Register for a specified period of time.

(As an unregistered teacher, you would not be able to teach in a position funded by the Department of Education and Skills.)

You will be invited to make submissions in relation to any proposed sanction.

Can I appeal the decision?

If the panel decides to impose one of the sanctions at b) to d) above, you can appeal the decision to the High Court within 21 days of being notified of the decision.  Appeals to the High Court are held in public. If you do not appeal, the Council must apply to the High Court for confirmation of the decision.

Is my employer notified of the outcome?

Yes, we are obliged to notify your employer of the outcome if you are employed as a teacher.

If the complaint is not proven, you can ask the Disciplinary Committee Panel to publish a notice stating that the complaint has been dismissed.

If the complaint is proven, and if a sanction is imposed, we will advise the public of the sanction if Council believe that it is in the public interest to do so. We may also decide to publish the findings of the panel if Council believe it is in the public interest to do so.