Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
369. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education for an update regarding the issue of salary credit for teachers that have returned from teaching abroad; and if she has plans to resolve this long-outstanding issue. [16756/24]
View answerThe criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).
These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service, both within and without the EU. Where a school satisfies the criteria set out in the circulars to have service at that school recognised for incremental credit, an award of incremental credit can be made.
Criteria such as whether the school is subject to state funding, which can be of particular relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied in order for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit.
Where schools do not satisfy the required criteria, then service at that school cannot be considered towards incremental credit. Teachers must be on the Department of Education’s teacher payroll or teaching in an Education and Training Board school before an application can be processed.
The criteria for the award of incremental credit for teachers are subject to review by way of an incremental credit committee, which is a sub-committee of the Teachers Conciliation Council, and which meets on an ongoing basis.
Through the Teachers Conciliation Council, the teacher unions have lodged a claim concerning the recognition of private post primary teaching service outside the EU towards the award of incremental credit.
The Department of Education examined this request as part of the 2024 budgetary process. While it was not possible to secure funding to progress this request through the 2024 budgetary process, other measures to assist with teacher supply were introduced in the budget including:
• An allocation of funding for an additional 1,000 posts of responsibility to be introduced across both primary and post-primary sectors for the 2024/25 school year. This has been an issue of key concern with the Teacher Unions
• Funding of €4 million towards a Professional Masters of Education (PME) incentive scheme.
The Department of Education will continue to examine ways in which the matter of incremental credit with respect to private post-primary teaching outside the EU may be progressed in the future.
