Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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416. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review a case (details supplied) in relation to a PhD postgraduate allowance entitlement anomaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15271/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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 qualification allowances were abolished with effect from 1^stFebruary 2012.

Circular 0008/2013 published by my Department in relation to this matter provided for an exception. This applied where at 5^thDecember 2011 a teacher was in employment on that date, and was eligible for receipt of a qualification allowance in respect of the post they held on that date, and that teacher was actively undertaking a course of further study leading to an additional qualification. The exception also required that the teacher did not cease to be a registered student on that course before its completion.

Circular 0008/2013 was produced under the auspices of The Teachers Conciliation Council which is made up of representatives of the Teacher Unions, the School Management Bodies, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Education & Skills chaired by an official of the Labour Relations Commission.

Circular 0063/2021 issued by my Department on 14^thDecember 2021 and extended the closing date for receipt of eligible qualification allowance applications to 30^thApril 2022.

My Department received an application for payment of a doctorate degree allowance from the teacher in question on 30^thApril 2022. The teacher’s application was refused on 17^thJanuary 2023 as the date of award of his PhD qualification was 11^thOctober 2013, ie. after his date of retirement on 31^stAugust 2013. A letter of appeal was received from the teacher in question on 27^thJanuary 2023 and his appeal was refused by my Department on 2^ndFebruary 2023.

As qualification allowances are paid to eligible teachers with effect from the date of award, this teacher has no entitlement to payment of a doctorate degree allowance as the date of his PhD award was after his date of retirement in 2013.