Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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758. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person with 18 years’ instruction experience (details supplied) will be allowed to claim incremental credit with respect to his teaching salary; if she will accept that the incremental credit scheme as currently defined is inflexible and may result in the unwillingness of experienced persons from taking up a teaching position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12598/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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). Circular 29/2007 is the relevant circular regarding the application that you refer.

To qualify for an award of incremental credit, a teacher and their prior work experience being claimed must satisfy the eligibility criteria set out in the relevant circular. An award of incremental credit cannot be made where the eligibility criteria is not satisfied.

If a teacher takes up a post in an ETB school, their incremental credit application must be submitted to the HR Unit of that ETB. However, if they accept a post in a school directly paid by the Department, then they apply to the Department for incremental credit.

Also, if a person opts to have their prior service recognised under the teaching service category, that service should be deemed to be the equivalent of approved teaching service for the purpose of this circular. Regarding post primary teachers, they must be qualified as post primary teachers.

The person to whom you refer has not taken up a teaching post yet and cannot look to have this prior service recognised for incremental credit purposes prior to taking up a teaching post. Prior service may be deemed to be relevant non-teaching service, and the applicant should demonstrate the relevance of that service to the teaching post that they hold. Also, there is a maximum award of five years for relevant non-teaching service.