Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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85. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the specific allowances available to teachers including principals working in Gaeltacht areas. [15863/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In 2012 a public service-wide review of allowances was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the review, qualification allowances and certain other premium payments were abolished with effect from 1st February 2012. Department of Education and Skills Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this decision on teachers. The Circular was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers.

The Council is composed of representatives of the teacher representative bodies, school management, the Department of Education and Skills and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission. The specific allowance payable to teachers including principals who worked in Gaeltacht areas is the Gaeltacht allowance which was withdrawn for new beneficiaries from 1 February 2012. Where a teacher held the Gaeltacht allowance on 31 January 2012 they will continue to be paid that allowance unless he/she ceases the job, in which case the teacher will lose his/her entitlement.