Vol. 551 No. 2
479 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason his Department is seeking a refund from a person (details supplied); the reason this person should be penalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9723/02]
To be eligible for payment of incremental salary grant, a secondary teacher must hold a third level qualification at degree level which is recognised for the purpose of teaching at second level and, in addition, must hold a recognised training-in-teaching qualification. The teacher to whom the Deputy refers does not hold the necessary qualifications for recognition as a secondary teacher. The teacher was paid at the rate appropriate for recognised teachers on the basis of details supplied in the documentation, which was submitted to my Department, nominating this teacher for payment of incremental salary grant. It was subsequently discovered, in an examination of the teacher's file, that the details supplied were incorrect and that the teacher was not recognised as a secondary teacher. In the circumstances, the teacher was not eligible for payment as a recognised teacher.
