Carol Nolan
Ceist:118. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reintroducing qualification allowances for teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12164/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 May 2016
Ceisteanna (118)
Freagraí scríofa
The estimated cost of restoring qualification allowances to teachers, including the cost of Employers' PRSI, is approximately €16 million per annum. This is based on the assumption that teachers employed since 2012 would qualify for an allowance at the rate applicable to a honours Primary Degree.
New teachers are appointed each year to replace teachers retiring and leaving teaching as well as filling new additional posts that arise in schools. This happens annually and accordingly the cost of restoring qualification allowances would continue to increase on an annual basis.
As the Deputy may be aware, teachers employed since 2012 are paid on an incremental salary scale that has been adjusted to provide some alleviation of the effects of the removal of qualification allowances. This has been taken into account in the figure above.