andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Education the countries which for the purposes of assessment of superannuation and years of service are recognised by his Department in respect of teachers who have taught abroad and who wish to resume their profession in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recognition of Teachers' Service Abroad.
39.
Service abroad is not reckonable for the purpose of superannuation.
Credit for the purpose of placing in the incremental salary scales for teachers may be allowed in respect of service given in the emergent countries of Africa.
Similar credit may be given to teachers of French, German, Italian and Spanish in respect of certain service in any school district on the Continent of which the language concerned is a vernacular.
Is there any reason why this facility should not be extended to other countries, such as America and Canada, if teachers want to get post-graduate courses in these countries?
There is the specific purpose of giving teachers experience in the language concerned in the case of continental countries and in the case of the emergent countries, it is an attempt on the part of this country to help those countries. The problem raised by the Deputy is an entirely different matter, about which I made a statement in the Dáil and to which I shall be referring in another answer.
Would the Minister state the countries in Africa where the arrangement applies?
I have not a list of the individual States at the moment, but the first scheme has already been applied in respect of Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone. Each application would be examined on its merits and so I have not composed an exhaustive list.
Does the Minister say that service abroad is not recognised for superannuation? Is it a fact that a period abroad is recognised for salary purposes on the same basis as if they were teaching here? Should not the question of superannuation also be decided on those lines?
No; the concession made was in relation to the incremental salary scale, and it was a concession. There has not been any demand for a further concession in relation to superannuation, nor do I see any great arguments for it.
Is it not a fact that a period of teaching abroad is not looked upon as breaking service here at home?
I do not think there is any need to put it into any other words than the words I have used. I have mentioned that a concession has been made for incremental salary scale purposes to teachers with service abroad and to argue from that by changing words is something that is not permitted by the form of the reply. What the Deputy says is trying to open a door which does not exist. If a proposition was put up to me in terms of the allowance of superannuation, that would be a different matter to be considered on its own merits.
Will the Minister say if teaching service in Northern Ireland would be recognised for superannuation purposes?
I have already answered a question about the whole question of service in other States.
Is Northern Ireland a foreign state, then?
I did not say "foreign"; I said "other".