Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the policy on incremental credit for post-primary teachers with overseas experience in private schools, given that such experience is recognised for primary teachers but not at post-primary level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18087/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department 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 outside 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.

With regard to the teacher to whom you refer, if their application related to service that did not meet the criteria in the circular, then the decision would be a refusal.

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 estimated additional cost of the award of incremental credit to teachers returning to Ireland with this service each year is €1.3m.

The department examined this as part of the 2025 budgetary process. However, it was not possible to secure funding to progress this request through the 2025 budgetary process.

The department is continuing to examine ways in which the matter may be progressed in the future.