Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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830. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider restoring the special education diploma allowance for those who are classed as "new entrants" (entered since September 2012); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19050/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education, along with other Departments across the public service, implemented the outcome of the public service-wide review of allowances and premium payments (September 2012) by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This meant that many allowances were no longer payable to “new entrants” including Teachers. Among the allowances that had sanction for payment to new beneficiaries removed was the Diploma in Special Education allowance.

In terms of the possible reintroduction of any allowance, under the local bargaining provision for Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024-2026, employers and trade unions/associations may negotiate additional changes in rates of pay and/or conditions of employment. Over the course of recent collective agreements, amendments have been agreed which have seen the value of certain allowances previously withdrawn being integrated into “new entrant” teacher pay. Examples are the equivalent of an honour’s primary degree allowance and the PME allowance.

My Department is currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the relevant Unions in the Education Sector under the provisions of the local bargaining provision of the Public Service Agreement and as such it would not be appropriate to comment further while negotiations are ongoing.