Michael Ring
Ceist:1053 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider employing national school teachers who have reached retirement age in a temporary capacity in the event of a shortage of teaching staff. [21497/01]
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Teachers who have retired compulsorily on age grounds are currently allowed to take up employment as substitute teachers in primary schools on a casual basis, without interruption of their pension payments. It is also possible for such teachers to be employed in a temporary capacity for short periods, but they must forfeit their superannuation benefits for the duration of their temporary contract.
I am currently investigating the possibility of putting arrangements in place to facilitate retired teachers who wish to take up teaching positions in a temporary capacity. It is expected that this investigation will be completed in the near future. My Department will then consider the issue in consultation with the education partners.
Pat Carey
Ceist:1054 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Dublin, who has returned to teaching since January 2001, can have her overseas teaching service of over 20 years acknowledged for incremental and pension purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21502/01]
Under the scheme of incremental credit for national school teachers, that came into effect from 1 September 2000, incremental credit may be awarded for all recognised teaching service given by qualified teachers in any other EU country. Where approved teaching service is given outside the EU, incremental credit is allowed up to a maximum of seven years, provided some of the service was given later than 30 May 1979.
The person in question gave service as a teacher in New Zealand and Australia between 1969 and 1989. She took up a permanent appointment here in January 2001 and was granted the maximum incremental credit of seven years in respect of her teaching service outside the EU. The teaching service in New Zealand and Australia is not reckonable here for pension purposes. There are no reciprocal arrangements between Ireland and Australia for the transfer of occupational pension rights.