Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of progress with issues around incremental credit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26175/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circulars 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and 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 of Education’s teacher 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 of Education examined this request as part of the 2024 budgetary process. While it was not possible to secure funding to progress this request through the 2024 budgetary process, other measures to assist with teacher supply were introduced in the budget including:

• An allocation of funding for an additional 1,000 posts of responsibility to be introduced across both primary and post-primary sectors for the 2024/25 school year. This has been an issue of key concern with the Teacher Unions
• Funding of €4 million towards a Professional Masters of Education (PME) incentive scheme.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can advise and provide assistance on a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26178/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to your recent correspondence to the Minister for Education, Ms. Norma Foley TD, in relation to supports for Teachers and Special Needs Assistants on foot of an assault in the course of their work.

In accordance with Section 14 of the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the Patron to appoint, where practicable, a Board of Management. The Board of Management is the body of persons or the person appointed by the Patron to manage the school on his/her behalf, including issues surrounding health and safety.

While the Department of Education has statutory functions in the setting of terms and conditions for teachers and Special Needs Assistants, the Department of Education is not the employer.

The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) determines the terms and conditions of Leave Schemes for Public Servants, which includes teachers and SNAs. In this regard, the limits imposed in the Assault Leave Circular for Teachers was agreed with Education Partners in conjunction with DPENDR.

The Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme is contained in the Department’s for teachers and for SNAs. It provides for special leave with pay (subject to specified limits) to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following an assault that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities.

The leave available under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault is 3 months (92 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period. In exceptional cases, such as where a significant period of hospitalisation is required or in situations of a second or subsequent incident of assault, the leave may be extended for a further period not exceeding 3 months (91 days) at full pay, subject to an overall limit of 6 months (183 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period.

A Teacher/SNA who has exhausted the maximum period of paid leave under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault and who is still medically unfit to resume duty may avail of Sick Leave under the Sick Leave Scheme, subject to the normal rules of that scheme.

The , which is currently provided by Spectrum.Life, is available as a supportive resource for teachers and SNAs. The freephone confidential helpline is 1800 411 057 and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Supportive resources may include short term counselling (up to six sessions). If the EAS recommends additional short-term counselling sessions with the teacher or SNA, the Department can facilitate this request.

The Department has established a working group to develop guidelines for schools on the prevention and management of challenging behaviour, where such behaviour poses imminent danger of serious physical harm to self or others within the school environment. It is expected the guidelines will be finalised and published before the new academic year; the guidelines will apply to all recognised schools.