Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will have a response to their application for incremental credits for a special needs assistant, which was made to her Department in January 2022; if the candidate is successful, will their payment be backdated to 01 January 2021; the reason the application is taking so long to process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17238/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for the award of Incremental Credit for previous experience is outlined in Circular 0139/2006 for special needs assistants (SNAs), and was agreed in the first instance, by the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC). This Council is comprised of representatives of the teacher unions, school management bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education chaired by an official of the Workplace Relations Commission.

An application for previous service with a preschool and as a substitute SNA with Department of Education was received in the incremental credit section on 31st January 2022. Applications are managed in date received order. Applications can take up to 20 weeks to be fully processed but most are dealt with well within this timeframe. Please be advised that if this person meets the criteria set out in Circular 0139/2006, incremental credit will then be backdated.