Teaching Council

greatcountry

This has to be the greatest Quango going. It's an absolute joke. Let the Imf into this crowd. It cost 67,877 to recruit 25 but only 5,036 to recruit the next year. Handy getting friends for thos jobs in year 2.
90 euros for squat but spin about protecting professionalism la de da.
4. Employees 2008 2007
Number Number
Number of employees

The average monthly numbers of employees
during the year were:
Office and management: 41 25
__________________ __________________

Employment costs 2008 2007

€ €

Wages and salaries 1,594,524 1,058,113
Social welfare costs 127,037 76,311
Recruitment costs 5,036 67,877
Other pension costs 337,543 239,372
Other payroll costs 41,511 19,525
_________ _________

2,105,651 1,461,198

Choclolate

100% right

What a shower of wasters.

They dont even understand the degrees they are assesing.

Talking about putting people off being teachers, or having a bad shower representing teachers.

Teachers Council are idiots.

Mountainsandh

+1 to both. A lot of money wasted on colour printing pointless correspondance too from that crowd.

paddymick_2000

I am not a teacher, but why have teachers not come together to oust these wasters.

solerina

Totally agree, they are a disgrace..paying money every year and there is nothing in return......what exactly are they doing with all the money they are getting ??

phkk

+1,its the biggest rip off.this QUANGO HAS TO STOP

ytareh

Agreed

spurious

Sadly the real joke is where the money to fund it comes from.
We fund it with each and every one of our €90.

gaeilgegrinds1

Can we refuse? Genuinely, I'd rather give my 90 to charity. My degree is straight forward, has been recognised so it's not going to change. When are they actually going to bring in the rule that says teachers without degrees in that subject cannot teach those subjects? I thought that was what we were paying for!

evolving_doors

paddymick_2000 wrote: »

I am not a teacher, but why have teachers not come together to oust these wasters.

Oh you mean like a union or something ya?

The Council is made up of 37 members as follows:

11 primary teachers, nine of whom are elected and two of whom are teacher union nominees
11 post-primary teachers, seven of whom are elected and four of whom are teacher union nominees
2 nominated by colleges of education
2 nominated by specified third level bodies
4 nominated by school management (Two Primary and two Post-primary)
2 nominated by parents’ associations (One Primary and one Post-primary)
5 nominated by the Minister for Education and Science, including one representing each of IBEC and ICTU

Maybe those union reps on the teaching council will vote to abolish it..hmmmm...

greatcountry

Armelodie, you're dead right there. Nice way to tidy up threat of a union-led revolt. Latest threat is that those not registered won't be paid ...quango...quack...quango...quack

evolving_doors

I see the notice calling for teacher reps for the TC in every school is still up gathering dust in our staffroom...my heart weeps

milosh

I like the idea of a professional body to regulate teaching as long as they are given the power to do the job properly. I only want to see qualified teachers in the profession. I also believe that schools should only be allowed to allocate subject hours to teachers who are qualified to teach those subjects. If there was an audit of this in the morning, I wonder how many schools are not doing this.

byhookorbycrook

INTO Welcomes Decision to Implement Section 30


The DES has confirmed to the INTO that the Minister for Education and Science, Ruairí Quinn TD, will be implementing Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act in full. 
The INTO welcomes the implementation of this longstanding demand of the Organisation, including a resolution adopted at INTO Annual Congress this year. INTO representatives have been in intensive discussions with DES officials in recent times pressing for the implementation of Section 30. The Section confirms that only registered teachers will be eligible for payment as teachers in schools.

TheDriver

but when? Though Ruairi means business with all his proposals so far so don't think it will be long

implausible

The demented thing is that we would have got away without paying the €90 up until now! You only needed it if applying for a Principal/DP position:mad:

nozama

From the teaching council's website:

Commencement of Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001

[ Wednesday, 15th June 2011 ]

The Teaching Council has been advised by the Department of Education and Skills that Section 30 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 will be commenced in the coming school year.
Section 30 provides that:
A person who is employed as a teacher in a recognised school
but —
(a) is not a registered teacher, or
(b) is removed or suspended from the register under Part 5,
shall not be remunerated by the school in respect of his or her employment out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
There are currently more than 70,000 teachers registered with The Teaching Council.
Teachers wishing to register should note that the registration process involves Garda vetting, the submission of qualification transcripts, and other supporting information.

spurious

I still believe a smart (or probably a not particularly smart) lawyer would knock that out of the water.

If I am teaching 20 odd years, fully qualified and registered with the TC, how can they not pay me for work already done* on the basis that I have not kept up my registration.

Not that I am not qualified
Not that I am not vetted
Not that my degree was not acceptable
Not that I did not do the work
Not that the work was not satisfactory
Not that I did not follow the required curriculum
but that I failed to pay a 90 euro fee.

We really have lost the plot in this country if that stands up in any court.

Meanwhile classes get bigger, special needs are slashed, language supports go, the weakest of the weak are targetted for cuts and the TC 'promotes teaching as a profession' by threatening the people who are trying to hold the sinking ship together.

*since we are all paid in arrears.

Fickidy

I'm a secondary school teacher and I'm not registered with the teaching council. I was, in 2006, when it was first formed, but I subsequently took a career break for 2 years and I let my membership lapse (I wasn't going to pay €90 for absolutely no services whatsoever, particularly since I wasn't even teaching).

So, I returned to my job in 2009. I was told I had to re-register with the Teaching Council. I phoned them to enquire about this and was told I would need to send in copies of my Degree and H-Dip Certs and also that I would need to go through a garda vetting programme. I don't understand either of these things... I had sent copies of both my parchments to the DESS when I was first employed by them and, as far as I know, they still have these on file (or at least they should!). I have also never done anything illegal and have no criminal record so I resent being asked to do be vetted by the gardai!

Anyway, I told all of this to the girl on the phone. Needless to say, she had no responses for me (especially when asked what it is exactly people are paying them this money for). In the end, for fear of not being paid, I asked her to send me out the re-registration forms. She didn't. I then e-mailed them to ask them to send them out. They didn't. I wasn't going to go chasing them to pay them a relatively large sum of money for a service which meant nothing to me.

So, now, I read that I am not going to be paid during the next academic year. Livid is not the word. I work with a member of the Teaching Council and he has even told me that they have millions in the bank and are doing nothing with it. They are still charging us €90 a year... But, where is this money going? Where are the audited accounts? Why are the members of the TC staying in 4/5* hotels every time they have a conference? Why was my colleague shot down when he suggested lowering the annual fee? Why is the Head of the TC earning a six-figure sum for the sitting on her arse?

As you can tell, I'm not happy. I tried ringing them again today and no answer. I e-mailed. No reply.

I am writing a very long and detailed letter to Ruairi Quinn to outline my outrage and I think that more teachers should consider doing this also.

Am fed up with this stupid country and rules that don't make sense.

seriouslysweet

Will this act stop us being taught by teachers who do not have the subjects they are teaching?

jonseyblub

seriouslysweet wrote: »

Will this act stop us being taught by teachers who do not have the subjects they are teaching?

Definitely not. As the timetabler in my school myself, the principal and Deputy have spent the last two weeks filling round holes with square pegs. The department are not giving an inch this year regarding hours. The principals are being told to fill hours with teachers whether or not they are qualified to teach it or not. The only extra hours that will be given will be for practical subjects where its impossible for anyone else to teach it. Its this that makes me so annoyed when I hear the media/politicians giving out about the state of Maths in the country. We have a Maths teacher who retired this year and his hours will be filled by someone (by no fault of himself) who is not qualified in the subject. It just happens we had a surplus in certain other subjects. Crazy!!

evolving_doors

Fickidy wrote: »

So, now, I read that I am not going to be paid during the next academic year. Livid is not the word. I work with a member of the Teaching Council and he has even told me that they have millions in the bank and are doing nothing with it. They are still charging us €90 a year... But, where is this money going? Where are the audited accounts? Why are the members of the TC staying in 4/5* hotels every time they have a conference? Why was my colleague shot down when he suggested lowering the annual fee? Why is the Head of the TC earning a six-figure sum for the sitting on her arse?

As you can tell, I'm not happy. I tried ringing them again today and no answer. I e-mailed. No reply.

Maybe with all the money they might start funding courses for teachers...:D

or else they're saving up a warchest for future cases against teachers!!!

Probably the latter.

What I'm wondering is how do other councils work, like the medical council? Do they do 'anything' either ?

If you could become a TC rep for your school then maybe you might have a better chance of getting through..(I'm sure nobody else in your school has taken up the post!!)

Anyhow it's appalling how you've been treated, have you tried your local TD, they're more inclined to help if there's a vote in it for them. Ruairi's secretary will probably file your letter nicely away and tell you the matter is being looked into.

Fuinseog

in order to teach at any level in a secondary school you need to be registered with the teaching council and you need to submit all your documents to them, yet principals still want to see your certificates when you are starting, which would suggest even they do not take the council seriously.

looksee

I have also never done anything illegal and have no criminal record so I resent being asked to do be vetted by the gardai!

While I sympathise with the rest of your argument, I don't think you should confuse the issue with the above. Garda vetting is perfectly reasonable for people who work with vulnerable people, just saying 'I haven't done anything illegal' really doesn't make sense.

PennyWise11

I totally agree with every word.

nozama

So here we are in September and still no word on enactment of Section 30....
Colleagues who are not members still being paid, Teaching Council undermined yet again...
Regretting joining in panic over the summer!

whiteandlight

nozama wrote: »

So here we are in September and still no word on enactment of Section 30....
Colleagues who are not members still being paid, Teaching Council undermined yet again...
Regretting joining in panic over the summer!

It really is a farce.posted on a thread earlier that the VEC I'm working for insist on their own Garda vetting as well as a transcript of results and birth cert. All this info has been submitted to the tc to get registration. It really makes me wonder are they just creating work so that they look busy??

carolmon

I'm registered with the Teaching Council and I have paid my fees up until December 2011.
At present I have no teaching hours this year.

What happens if I don't pay my fees because I am not working............do the Council take me off the register and insist I re register and go through the whole process again if I get work??

Is there a reduced rate for unemployed teachers to remain on the register?

I wouldn't object to a nominal admin fee to update the process but it seriously annoys me to have to pay out 90e if I'm not working..........
with the amount of unemployed teachers nowadays it's an issue to consider.

Lord TSC

Agreed there. In the last year, I've worked two days and got paid just over 200€. Counter that with the 180€ I've now paid to the TC and then tax and all that and I've walked out of the last year with about twenty quid

Laura.Lee

And on the Hibernia PGDE thread, unqualified teachers are saying that they are currently subbing in the schools they are to do teaching practice in in Februaury. :mad::mad::mad:
So unfair and unsatisfactory. The TC really needs to implement change.

Delphi91

Laura.Lee wrote: »

And on the Hibernia PGDE thread, unqualified teachers are saying that they are currently subbing in the schools they are to do teaching practice in in Februaury. :mad::mad::mad:
So unfair and unsatisfactory. The TC really needs to implement change.

Its not just Hibernia PGDE students - I'm aware of at least two students who were subbing in schools in the year prior to their entering for a PGDE so that they could build up hours "of experience" to allow them to qualify for the entry requirements.

Printer

I wont even begin to start to tell you about my 6 month duel with the teaching council to have my first class honours degree in International Business with French and Spanish recognised so i can teach languages.

Anyway, turns out I now have to undertake extra credits so I can teach French (or be recognised as French teacher).

What if you are unqualified substitute? Do you still get paid as normal for hours you do?

Delphi91

Printer wrote: »

...What if you are unqualified substitute? Do you still get paid as normal for hours you do?

Not sure about other places, but in my VEC, there is a qualified rate and an unqualified rate - depends on whether you have a HDE or not (or the equivalent)

carolmon

Printer wrote: »

I wont even begin to start to tell you about my 6 month duel with the teaching council to have my first class honours degree in International Business with French and Spanish recognised so i can teach languages.

Anyway, turns out I now have to undertake extra credits so I can teach French (or be recognised as French teacher).

What if you are unqualified substitute? Do you still get paid as normal for hours you do?

They are Nazis when it comes to recognition, I'm still "unqualifed" according to them despite a Ist class HDip in Adult/ Community Ed/ Learning Support and TEFL diplomas..............
Having graduated from four Unis I don't consider myself "unqualifed" and resent the term.

There has to be a broader approach to what constitutes "qualified".

It's too narrow nowadays to disregard relevant qualifications and insist on one specific qualification as being the definitive decider.
It also gives a false perspective to people who don't understand the mysterious workings of the Teaching Council - "unqualified" is really not the correct term and does not mean that all "unqualified" teachers have not got teacher training and degrees.

"Unrecognised" would be a better description.

Looks like I've exhausted all routes to full recognition and will have to re apply to do the conventional HDip.

implausible

carolmon wrote: »

They are Nazis when it comes to recognition, I'm still "unqualifed" according to them despite a Ist class HDip in Adult/ Community Ed/ Learning Support and TEFL diplomas..............
Having graduated from four Unis I don't consider myself "unqualifed" and resent the term.

There has to be a broader approach to what constitutes "qualified".

It's too narrow nowadays to disregard relevant qualifications and insist on one specific qualification as being the definitive decider.
It also gives a false perspective to people who don't understand the mysterious workings of the Teaching Council - "unqualified" is really not the correct term and does not mean that all "unqualified" teachers have not got teacher training and degrees.

"Unrecognised" would be a better description.

Looks like I've exhausted all routes to full recognition and will have to re apply to do the conventional HDip.

I would agree that the term could do with some work! But, without meaning to sound too harsh, if you want to teach secondary school, you have to be qualified in teaching secondary school students. That means having a degree in 'teachable' subjects and a PGD in secondary education. While the TC can be a complete balls, I'd agree with what they are trying to do in regulating the qualifications of those in the profession.

Miss Lockhart

Delphi91 wrote: »

Not sure about other places, but in my VEC, there is a qualified rate and an unqualified rate - depends on whether you have a HDE or not (or the equivalent)

Again, there doesn't seem to be any consistency around the country, so no wonder people are confused.

In my VEC the difference between qualified and unqualified depends on whether you have a TC recognised degree or not - PGDE not being a requirement to teach in a VEC.

Of course, "unqualified" staff are not eligible for the Dip allowance, but that's the only difference.

delta_bravo

carolmon wrote: »

They are Nazis when it comes to recognition, I'm still "unqualifed" according to them despite a Ist class HDip in Adult/ Community Ed/ Learning Support and TEFL diplomas..............
Having graduated from four Unis I don't consider myself "unqualifed" and resent the term.

There has to be a broader approach to what constitutes "qualified".


Looks like I've exhausted all routes to full recognition and will have to re apply to do the conventional HDip.

I cant say I disagree with the TC in regarding you as unqualified. I wouldn't expect to be regarded as qualified to do TEFL with my PGDE so why should the reverse work?

You have a wealth of qualifications but none directly relate to Secondary School Education. Teaching adults is totally different to 2nd level education. Don't take it so personally

This is all very clear, the PGDE is the government recognised entry into 2nd level education. I'm sure you will do well but there is no way to bypass it.

Embojitsu

Delphi91 wrote: »

Its not just Hibernia PGDE students - I'm aware of at least two students who were subbing in schools in the year prior to their entering for a PGDE so that they could build up hours "of experience" to allow them to qualify for the entry requirements.[/QUOTE

I was talking about this today with a friend; I am a PhD student and will be looking for subbing work an hour or two and not much more, but my friend said that you can't even get subbing work without a H.Dip now. I'm not chucking €90 away on a registration fee with the Teaching Council for nothing. Is it possible to get subbing work with a Masters?

carolmon

delta_bravo wrote: »

You have a wealth of qualifications but none directly relate to Secondary School Education. Teaching adults is totally different to 2nd level education.

My learning support diploma was directly related to my work in 2nd level and also about half of my HDip (Community Ed)

Anyway my point was I am not "unqualified" and resent the term.

gaeilgebeo

carolmon wrote: »

My learning support diploma was directly related to my work in 2nd level and also about half of my HDip (Community Ed)

Anyway my point was I am not "unqualified" and resent the term.

You are most definitely qualified in terms of adult education.
In terms of second level education, you do not have the necessary qualifications to be deemed as "qualified".

Lord TSC

carolmon wrote: »

My learning support diploma was directly related to my work in 2nd level and also about half of my HDip (Community Ed)

Anyway my point was I am not "unqualified" and resent the term.

Have you one or two teachable subjects and degrees in them?

carolmon

Teamshadowclan wrote: »

Have you one or two teachable subjects and degrees in them?

yep and fully recognised by the council to teach my subjects to Leaving Cert in a VEC school but hey...not the school around the corner!

Same age group/ same curriculum/ same work but different pay scale depending on which school I'm in.

delta_bravo

carolmon wrote: »

My learning support diploma was directly related to my work in 2nd level and also about half of my HDip (Community Ed)

Anyway my point was I am not "unqualified" and resent the term.

I'm not sure why you are getting so stuck on the term. You are certainly not yet a "qualified" 2nd level teacher as you do not meet all the necessary criteria laid out by the TC and Department. Therefore the TC would classify you as unqualified.

mrboswell

Delphi91 wrote: »

Its not just Hibernia PGDE students - I'm aware of at least two students who were subbing in schools in the year prior to their entering for a PGDE so that they could build up hours "of experience" to allow them to qualify for the entry requirements.[/QUOTE

I was talking about this today with a friend; I am a PhD student and will be looking for subbing work an hour or two and not much more, but my friend said that you can't even get subbing work without a H.Dip now. I'm not chucking €90 away on a registration fee with the Teaching Council for nothing. Is it possible to get subbing work with a Masters?

But you are not qualified according to the current bench mark of the teaching council. They call the shots whether we like it or not. Of course you can get subbing work. Schools still have the pick of the bunch, so they could easily say that the only person that they could find at short notice was the person they have to fill the job. For all we know if could be a relation etc.
Sure, schools are supposed to get qualified persons before unqualified persons, but it doesn't always wok out like that.

Anyway on that basis, why would you pay €90 to the TC if you are not a teacher?

Pjfogar

mrboswell wrote: »

Delphi91 wrote: »

Its not just Hibernia PGDE students - I'm aware of at least two students who were subbing in schools in the year prior to their entering for a PGDE so that they could build up hours "of experience" to allow them to qualify for the entry requirements.[/QUOTE

I was talking about this today with a friend; I am a PhD student and will be looking for subbing work an hour or two and not much more, but my friend said that you can't even get subbing work without a H.Dip now. I'm not chucking €90 away on a registration fee with the Teaching Council for nothing. Is it possible to get subbing work with a Masters?

But you are not qualified according to the current bench mark of the teaching council. They call the shots whether we like it or not. Of course you can get subbing work. Schools still have the pick of the bunch, so they could easily say that the only person that they could find at short notice was the person they have to fill the job. For all we know if could be a relation etc.
Sure, schools are supposed to get qualified persons before unqualified persons, but it doesn't always wok out like that.

Anyway on that basis, why would you pay €90 to the TC if you are not a teacher?

Hi

Wondering if anyone could give me advice seeing as ASTI , the TC and Dept can't!!!! I was working as an unqualified sub in the same school for 8 years. Applied numerous times to do the dip here but couldn't get it. Eventually was accepted to do a modular PGCE which was attained last year ( July 2010). Worked last year in the same school with ten of my own hours plus some subbing. Had been registered with TC until 2008 when I let it lapse. Applied again Aug 2011 (€290 farce) and am waiting for my number. I have 2 questions.
1. Can I apply for teaching jobs with my letter of receipt from TC that I have applied for registration? According to circular I think I can?
2. How long will it take for this "magic" number to come through? (Application is complete with regards vetting, quals etc)

Any advice please , I have a pain in my a**e....

Dionysus

I don't mean to play the devil's advocate here, but the fact is that across the public sector people are charged with assessing your qualification. I did a diploma some years back and applied for a public service job (outside teaching). I sat the exams and was successful enough to be called to interview. After that they asked for my qualifications. I gave them the diploma in question as part of this and they said it wasn't sufficient. A few months later I noticed other sections of the public sector which had a higher standard in the area in question were accepting it. A year later, the section of the public sector which refused me was accepting it.

Well. What can I say. This isn't going to be popular but the people who run courses should be ensuring that they will get people who do the course qualified for positions and professions close to it. Failing that, surely to God some responsibility (at least) rests with the people who pay for courses to check that the course they are paying for will qualify them for the profession they are interested in. Well? Is the TC some sort of scapegoat for some, obviously not all, people who want to get into teaching?

I'm not just talking the talk: a couple of degrees later and a PhD I've just returned to do another degree at night because the TC will not recognise my existing qualification for another subject which I want to teach. They are right not to: my qualification is simply not good enough. I am willing to expend the money and work to achieve this qualification. I'm not looking for a short cut. Their rules are clear: you need a certain number of credits before you can be registered with them to teach that subject. To change those rules now would be a huge injustice to those of us who have/are put/putting the additional work into reaching that standard.

In fact, my objection to the TC is that they are continuing to tolerate a wide range of people who do not hold degrees in subjects to teach those subjects. They should have, long ago, given these people a timeframe within which they had to secure their degrees/the required credits in their respective subjects. That would be fair to the teachers in question, and the students. The TC didn't, and the same unqualified people are still teaching in Irish schools. Why is the TC, and more importantly the Department of Education which pays the salaries, not clamping down on these people and raising the educational standard of teachers in Irish schools? Why is this laziness being tolerated? This particular suggestion is going to piss off many of the regulars here, just as it would piss off many people in the average school staff room. So be it.

mrboswell

Pjfogar wrote: »

I have 2 questions.
1. Can I apply for teaching jobs with my letter of receipt from TC that I have applied for registration? According to circular I think I can?
2. How long will it take for this "magic" number to come through? (Application is complete with regards vetting, quals etc)

Of course you can apply - besides if you if a principal requires the registration, if they really want you then they will give you the benefit of the doubt. If applying just show the receipt and say "pending" on it.
How long will it take? Well with a professional organisation you would expect a quick turn around, but then again you are dealing with the Teaching Council so it could be substantially longer.

Avery

I applied recently and it took only approx 4-5 days to turn around

rainbowtrout

delta_bravo wrote: »

I cant say I disagree with the TC in regarding you as unqualified. I wouldn't expect to be regarded as qualified to do TEFL with my PGDE so why should the reverse work?

You have a wealth of qualifications but none directly relate to Secondary School Education. Teaching adults is totally different to 2nd level education. Don't take it so personally

This is all very clear, the PGDE is the government recognised entry into 2nd level education. I'm sure you will do well but there is no way to bypass it.

Totally agree. Carolmon, if you don't have the PGDE it doesn't matter what your other qualifications are, that is the recognised teaching qualification for secondary schools. Sure if that was the case, wouldn't it be the same as someone who qualified in veterinary trying to get a job in a hospital, isn't it all the same, vets and doctors, they administer medication, diagnose illness and perform some surgeries? Would you mind going into a hospital and finding a vet was dealing with you?

Embojitsu wrote: »

Delphi91 wrote: »

Its not just Hibernia PGDE students - I'm aware of at least two students who were subbing in schools in the year prior to their entering for a PGDE so that they could build up hours "of experience" to allow them to qualify for the entry requirements.[/QUOTE

I was talking about this today with a friend; I am a PhD student and will be looking for subbing work an hour or two and not much more, but my friend said that you can't even get subbing work without a H.Dip now. I'm not chucking €90 away on a registration fee with the Teaching Council for nothing. Is it possible to get subbing work with a Masters?

The HDip/PGDE is a teaching qualification. It doesn't matter how many masters/degrees/PhDs you hold. They only give you qualifications in a subject area, none of them qualify you to teach unless they are a teacher training qualification. You won't be able to register with the Teaching Council without your PGDE anyway.

NoelleTh

I sent in my qualifications to be assessed (I did a PGCE in Coleraine) a month ago and I am yet to even get a letter of acknowledgement from the TC that they got my stuff, is this normal?
It's just worrying because it's a lot of important documents I know it got to them because I sent it be registered post it's silly I know but I just don't like the thoughts of my hard earned PGCE and my other qualifications just lying around some office!

rainbowtrout

NoelleTh wrote: »

I sent in my qualifications to be assessed (I did a PGCE in Coleraine) a month ago and I am yet to even get a letter of acknowledgement from the TC that they got my stuff, is this normal?
It's just worrying because it's a lot of important documents I know it got to them because I sent it be registered post it's silly I know but I just don't like the thoughts of my hard earned PGCE and my other qualifications just lying around some office!

To be honest, it seems to be hit and miss, dependent on what your request is. I was registering an extra subject a couple of months ago, and I sent them the documentation on a Wednesday. I checked my registration details online the following Monday, and to my surprise it had been updated, and I had my documentation back two days later. I couldn't believe the TC could be a bastion of efficiency until I witnessed it myself!

On another more contentious note, I paid my subscription back in March or April and paid it online one afternoon, I was amazed to get a letter the following morning with my TC card and certificate thing to say I was a fully paid up member for another year. Less than a 24 hour turnaround. Couldn't believe it.

I imagine registering for the first time is a more lengthy process, maybe the delay is checking your qualification from Coleraine because you didn't get it in Ireland. It could be any one of a myriad of reasons, given past form though.