Vol. 503 No. 1
122 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if a secondary school teacher (details supplied) in County Wexford will be paid an incremental credit; and if the staffing difficulties which have led to the backlog in processing these cases will be rectified. [9468/99]
124 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Wexford who is entitled on the basis of incremental credit to be paid at point 22 of the secondary teachers' pay scale is receiving salary based on point 4 of the scale; his views on the hardship to this teacher and his family arising from this annual deficit of £10,000; the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that the appropriate salary is paid to this teacher without further delay; if interest will be paid on the arrears of salary due to this teacher who has incurred overdraft interest as a result of his Department's failure to pay the correct salary rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9340/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 124 together.
In accordance with the terms of agreed reports 9/79 and 4/85 of the conciliation council for teachers, incremental credit may be awarded in respect of recognised teaching service abroad. Up to seven years incremental credit may be allowed, subject to a maximum of four years in respect of service prior to 1 June 1979.
In September 1997 the person referred to by the Deputies submitted an application for incremental credit in respect of teaching service abroad. This application could not be considered until the teacher concerned was registered as a secondary teacher.
The teacher was formally registered in January 1999 and the application for incremental credit is currently being examined by my Department. A decision on the application will be made shortly and, if credit is awarded, arrangements will be made for the payment of any arrears due to the teacher concerned as soon as possible thereafter.
