Teaching Qualifications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (1053)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

1053. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will resolve the anomaly whereby secondary school teachers such as a person (details supplied) who are being denied consideration for teaching experience gained as a substitute teacher due to the fact that experience gained before 2001 is only counted if it was full hours in the same school for the full school year; if she will confirm that this is in contrast to non-teaching experience which can be counted, and the treatment of primary school teachers whereby such experience is also counted; and if she will investigate the case. [39878/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I refer to your correspondence in relation to a post primary teacher’s email with regard to their previous teaching service from 1996 to 2001.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Education. The Council is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission. The criteria for the award of incremental credit is laid out in my Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers.

According to this teacher's payroll file, a letter issued to the teacher on the 21 November 2006 from the Department's incremental credit section, outlining that this teacher's teaching service would not attract the award of incremental credit prior to 20 December 2001. The Department advised this teacher at the time to submit a completed incremental credit application form for processing outlining all of the teacher's teaching service. To date the Department have not received any applications in full for processing.

This teacher may apply for their previous teaching service overseas and the application form can be downloaded from the relevant circular 29/2007. The completed application form should be emailed to [e-mail] by the school overseas.