Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that teachers (details supplied) have not received payment from her Department for the teaching work they have completed since August 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53728/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to outline to the Deputy the details of the procedures to process applications for all teacher appointments at the start of each new school year and the commitment of staff of my Department to efficiently process these applications.

Early in the New Year, each school is advised by my Department of their teaching allocations for the forthcoming school year. It is the responsibility of the school Management Authority to ensure that all teaching posts will be filled. Vacancies may arise in schools as a result of additional teaching posts, retirements, teachers moving to another school, career breaks, job sharing arrangements, etc. Once a school has selected a successful candidate for a vacancy, they must provide the teacher’s details to my Department in order to be set up on payroll. These details are provided in an appointment form and include details of the teachers’ appointment, type of contract, Teaching Council registration details, bank details, etc. My Department gives an annual commitment to Schools, teachers, Unions and Education Partners that all correctly completed appointment forms received in Payroll Division in early July will be paid on the first pay date in September. For the 2022/2023 school year this date was 8th July 2022 for Primary teachers.

Appointment forms received after the July dates are processed in date order of receipt and many are processed in time for salary payment on the first pay date of September, or as early as possible thereafter. There are many instances where a school forwards an appointment form after the school year has begun. Our records show that the six appointments form were submitted by the school to my Department on 6th October 2022. Salary and arrears of pay will be paid to the six teachers on 27th October 2022. A seventh appointment form was received on 18th October 2022 and salary and arrears of pay will be paid to the teacher on 11th November 2022.