My Department currently operates a scheme of provisional recognition at primary level whereby individuals who are recognised as fully qualified primary teachers in the United Kingdom or other EU member states may be appointed to a post in a primary school for a period of three years in advance of acquiring the Irish language qualification. On attainment of the Irish language qualification, such teachers are then recognised as fully qualified primary teachers in this State. During the period of provisional recognition these teachers are remunerated at either the qualified substitute teacher rate or at a rate which currently stands at £13,431 per annum. On becoming fully recognised, these teachers have the teachers' common basic scale applied retrospectively in respect of any service as a temporary assistant.