Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2024
117. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Education if she has considered the reintroduction of the qualifications allowance for teachers at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6341/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments (September 2012) by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform which means that many allowances, qualifications allowances, were no longer payable to “new entrant” Teachers. Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this review on teachers. In common with a number of job-role based allowances, sanction for payment to new beneficiaries was withdrawn from 1st February 2012 under the terms of the Circular.
Additional amendments to Teacher Terms and Conditions, including pay and allowances, can only be achieved through engagement and collective bargaining agreements between the Government and the public service unions. Any further amendments to alter the allowances paid to teachers, whether new entrant or not, give rise to significant cost issues and should, as mentioned, be part of engagement and collective agreements between Unions and Government. The restoration of allowances is currently a matter of discussion at the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC), to which the Department, teacher unions, school management bodies and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform are all party. As proceedings of the TCC are confidential, it would not be appropriate for the Minister to make any further comment while it remains under consideration.
