Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding teachers who are studying for masters (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40073/11]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify the situation regarding entitlement to a salary allowance for teachers on the completion of a masters qualification; the eligibility for this allowance for students who have now completed the first year of their masters; if the proposed changes will exclude these from this entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40168/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos.104 and 115 together.

The Government announced as part of Budget 2012 that, pending completion of the public service-wide review of allowances, changes to teacher qualification allowances were being made with immediate effect. These changes will affect both existing teachers and new appointees in future. This decision was taken due to the upward pressure on the cost of teacher allowances. Without any changes, the cost of qualification allowances are expected to result in an additional €150 million increase in the cost of teacher salaries by 2020. To put this in context, the other reductions in education expenditure announced in Budget 2012 amount to €76 million. Without immediate action, this upward pressure would have cancelled out the savings made elsewhere in the education system and would bring about even harsher adjustments to schools and services.

This measure does not affect allowances currently being paid to existing teachers. However, those teachers will not be paid any additional allowance if they acquire any further qualification. The position of teachers who, on 5 December 2011, were undertaking courses will be considered in the context of the public service-wide review of allowances announced in Budget 2012 which is to be led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Any teacher being employed for the first time in a recognised school will not be able to obtain an allowance at a level greater than that applying to those who hold an honours degree. This means that qualifications at Masters or Doctorate level will not be paid, and those who hold a H.Dip will not be permitted through any combination of allowances to exceed the level of allowance payable in respect of an honours degree. Where a teacher on first appointment is eligible for payment of an allowance below that equivalent to honours degree level he or she will, in common with existing teachers, not be paid any additional allowance should he or she acquire a further qualification. My Department will be publishing information on this matter for teachers and schools on www.education.ie within the next week.