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	Up to 30 teachers a year are expected to face public disciplinary hearings getting under way in Ireland for the first time.</p>
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	The inquiries, similar to those conducted for doctors and nurses, will investigate cases of underperformance and serious misconduct.</p>
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	In extreme cases, teachers may be &quot;struck off&quot; the professional register, losing their licence to work in a State-funded position in Ireland.</p>
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	The disciplinary panel may also apply lesser penalties, such as suspension, admonishment or an offer of support to improve performance.</p>
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	The first &quot;fitness to teach&quot; hearings are expected to take place early next year.</p>
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	The hearings were envisaged in legislation that led to the establishment of the Teaching Council a decade ago.</p>
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	However, the legal order giving effect to this provision comes into effect today, after being signed off by Education Minister Richard Bruton.</p>
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	Hearings will be conducted by a panel appointed by the Teaching Council, which is the professional standards body.</p>
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	Any person may now apply to the Teaching Council for an inquiry into a teacher&#39;s fitness to practise - where there are serious grounds for concern.</p>
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	Parents and, in some cases, pupils may be called as witnesses - although children&#39;s evidence will be given in private.</p>
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	Mr Bruton said the process would affirm confidence in the teaching profession in the long run.</p>
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	&quot;Part of being a member of any modern profession is that the public can be assured that when these high professional standards are not upheld, it is possible for a citizen to seek redress by bringing their complaint forward and see it dealt with in a proper way,&quot; he said.</p>
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	The minister said that teachers would also be protected under the new arrangements - sanctions could be appealed to the High Court.</p>
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	Teaching Council director Tomas O&#39;Ruairc told the Irish Independent that the council had a number of complaints in hand and they would now deal with these.</p>
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	Mr O&#39;Ruairc said that, judging by the experience in Scotland and Wales, up to 30 cases a year could go to hearing.</p>
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	Under the new procedures, once a complaint is made to the Teaching Council, it will appoint an Investigation Committee to decide whether it merits being put forward to a Disciplinary Committee.</p>
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	Complaints that are considered frivolous or vexatious will not progress to a formal hearing. The Disciplinary Committee will establish a panel, made up mainly of teachers, to conduct the hearings. The Disciplinary Committee will have its own legal advice.</p>
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	Teachers have to be registered with the Teaching Council to work in State-funded positions. There are about 91,000 currently on the register.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 25th July 2016)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-bad-teachers-now-face-being-struck-off-34908793.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-bad-teachers-now-face-being-struck-off-34908793.html</a></p>
