Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills following the recent decision taken at the Teacher's Conciliation Council to honour qualifications of teachers whose further courses of study had commenced prior to 1 February 2012, the proposed timeframe to honour such payments; when the first payments will issue in respect of this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1820/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The review of allowances across the public sector as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in September 2012 allows for the payment of a qualification allowance to recognised teachers who were undertaking courses of study on 5 December 2011. Where applicable, qualification allowances will become payable where the teacher is eligible to be in receipt of the qualified rate of pay i.e. where the teacher is appropriately qualified and registered for the sector in which they are employed.

A circular detailing the impacts of the outcome of the review by the Department of Expenditure and Reform on the education system is due to be issued shortly from my Department. A number of applications for qualification allowances have been received by the Department in the last number of months and these are being processed at the current time. Any arrears of salary due to teachers will be paid to them as soon as possible.