Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. The criteria for the award of incremental credit to recognised teachers was agreed under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC).

These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of overseas teaching service, both within and without the EU. Where a school satisfies the criteria set out in the circulars to have service at that school recognised for incremental credit, an award of incremental credit can be made.

Criteria such as whether the school is subject to state funding, which can be of particular relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied in order for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit.

Where schools do not satisfy the required criteria, then service at that school cannot be considered towards incremental credit. Teachers must be on the Department’s payroll or teaching in an Education and Training Board school before an application can be processed.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit for teachers are subject to review by way of an incremental credit committee, which is a sub-committee of the Teachers Conciliation Council and which meets on an ongoing basis.

Through the Teachers Conciliation Council, the teacher unions have lodged a claim concerning the recognition of private post primary teaching service outside the EU towards the award of incremental credit.

The Department examined this request as part of the 2024 budgetary process. However, it was not possible to secure funding to progress this request through the 2024 budgetary process.

The Department was however successful in securing funding for a number of other important initiatives aimed at teachers such as the restoration of 1,000 posts of responsibility and the PME incentive scheme.

The Department will continue to examine ways in which the matter may be progressed in the future.

The teacher unions have also called for a review of the limit of 7 years which applies to teaching service outside the EU. However, the Department considered the request made by the unions but following that consideration have determined that this is a cost increasing measure. Cost increasing claims cannot be considered under the terms of the Building Momentum Agreement.

The Department is also engaged in a review of the Incremental Credit application process with a view to improving the overall application process, reducing the processing time for such applications resulting in the issue of quicker decisions on applications for incremental credit.