Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter regarding teacher remuneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38432/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 affect new allowances payable to both existing teachers and to new appointees in the future.

Under Budget 2012 teachers appointed before 5 December 2011 are not paid an allowance where they acquire further qualifications after that date. Allowances for teachers first appointed between 5 December 2011 and 31 January 2012 are payable up to a maximum of €4,226 which was the rate applicable to Honours Primary Degree allowance. Pending the outcome of the review of allowances and premium payments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, allowances are not payable to new beneficiaries from 1 February 2012. The only exceptions to this prohibition are principal and deputy principal allowances and, subject to certain restrictions, the assistant principal allowance. These decisions were taken due to the upward pressure on the cost of teacher allowances. These provisions are outlined in Circular 70/2011 and Circular 3/2012. The position of teachers who, on 5 December 2011, were undertaking courses, including the individual referred to by the Deputy, will be considered in the context of the review. The Department is not in a position to comment further on the position in relation to teacher allowances until the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances is known.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers accessing each of the common basic pay scales at primary and post primary level. [38440/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The information sought is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy.