Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that a person (details supplied) was refused an incremental credit for their time teaching in Australia. [44750/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria required to have incremental credit awarded to primary school teachers are set out in the Department of Education circular 10/2001.

On 25th March 2022, this teacher's application for recognition of teaching service at South Padbury Primary School, Western Australia was received by my Department. A refusal letter issued on 2nd June 2022 stating that this teacher was not a qualified primary trained teacher during this period of service and therefore this service could not reckon for incremental credit under circular 10/2001.

It should be noted that circular 10/2001, paragraph 4.1 sets out the following criteria relating to prior teaching service outside the Republic of Ireland:-

1. Teaching service given outside the Republic of Ireland by a qualified primary teacher in a school or college which is the equivalent of a primary or post primary school in the Republic of Ireland may qualify for the award of incremental credit.

2. Prior teaching service cannot be reckoned for incremental credit under the relevant non-teaching category as set out in paragraph 7 of circular 10/2001.

As this teacher’s service in Australia took place prior to their primary teaching qualification, they are deemed unqualified under the terms of circular 10/2001 and that service cannot be reckoned for incremental credit.