Vol. 486 No. 5
88 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if two teachers (details supplied) in County Mayo travelling to Aror, Kenya on a cultural and educational exchange can be granted leave of absence without a break in their service contract for incremental and pension purposes, in view of the fact that they will be developing an educational module from Aror for Irish students. [2916/98]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department has sanctioned unpaid leave of absence for a period of 12 days from 16 February 1998 to 27 February 1998 to allow the teachers in question to travel to Kenya.
Unfortunately, the future award of increments, if any, to the teachers will be deferred by the period for which the teachers will be out of service. Similarly, the break will affect superannuation entitlements by 12 days. This is in line with existing and long established practices from which, regretfully, there cannot be any deviations.
