Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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1060. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will bring in an appeals process for those teachers seeking incremental credit for working in schools outside of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20106/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of teachers, school management, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and is chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit is laid out in my Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers.

These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit for service given within the EU. While the circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of teaching service in private primary schools outside the EU no provision is made for the award of incremental credit in respect of teaching service given in private post primary schools outside of the European Union.

The circulars for Incremental Credit, as agreed at the TCC, make provision for a process to appeal a decision by the Department to refuse an application for incremental credit under the terms of the relevant circular in respect of Relevant Non-Teaching applications. No provision is made for an appeal for teaching service.

The teachers unions have lodged a number of claims at TCC in relation to incremental credit, including one in relation to recognising private teaching service, given by post-primary teachers, outside the EU. TCC agreed to establish a sub-Committee to consider the claims. The claims are still under consideration.