David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in relation to an application for incremental credit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22263/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The teacher to which the Deputy refers, applied for incremental credit initially under circular 29/2010 with regard to their prior service in a school in Waterford. It is a requirement of circular 29/2010 that a teacher is registered with the Teaching Council to qualify for incremental credit under this circular. In order to be registered as a post primary teacher with the Teaching Council, a person must be qualified as a post primary teacher.

At the time of this prior service, this teacher was not a qualified teacher and was not registered with the Teaching Council. Therefore, this person could not be awarded incremental credit under 29/2010 as they did not meet the eligibility criteria.

In November 2021, this teacher again applied for incremental credit under circular 29/2007 with regard to the same prior teaching service but applying this time under the relevant non-teaching (RNT) category provided for under the Circular.

In accordance with Section 6.C.i of circular 29/2007, incremental credit under the RNT category can be awarded in respect of period(s) of suitable experience gained in the course of non-teaching service. However, in accordance with Section 6.C.i(3) of the circular, the teacher must have been professionally qualified for that service at the time the service was given in order to qualify under the RNT category.

The teacher did not therefore satisfy the criteria set down in the circular for an award of incremental credit under the RNT category.

It should also be noted that if a teacher is refused incremental credit under teaching service, it is not an automatic entitlement that they can submit an application under RNT service as set out in our incremental credit circulars.