Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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372. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current rules governing the award of incremental credit to teachers returning to the State who have taught abroad; the rationale for the distinction in treatment between teaching service in EU member states, which is recognised under Circular 0027/2016, and teaching service in private schools outside the EU, which is not; if she will review these arrangements in the context of the ongoing teacher recruitment and retention difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41423/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Department Circular 0027/2016 sets out the eligibility criteria for teachers who have previous service in an analogous teaching position in the public service of another EU Member State to have that service recognised for placement onto an earlier pay scale once appointed to an Oireachtas funded teaching post in Ireland. This Circular which includes the relevant Application Form can be accessed on the gov.ie website.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’s Circular 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and Circulars 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of prior teaching service, including overseas teaching service, both within and outside the EU and/or relevant non-teaching service. In order to apply for incremental credit a teacher must be in an Oireachtas funded post when applying for incremental credit.

Where the service/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, if the school offers a range of studies which incorporates all of the courses prescribed on the national curriculum of the State in which the school is located, for which both criteria can be of relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied for service at that school to be recognised for incremental credit.

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

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received in each of the past five years from teachers returning from abroad seeking incremental credit for overseas teaching experience; the number approved and refused in each year, in tabular form; the engagement her Department has had with the teacher unions on the recognition of non-EU teaching experience; the steps being taken to remove disincentives for qualified Irish teachers working abroad to return to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41424/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Statistical data on the breakdown of the number of number of applications for overseas teaching experience in the last 5 years is not collated by my Department and is therefore not readily available.

The criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department of Education’s Circular 10/2001 for Primary teachers, and Circulars 29/2007 and 29/2010 for Post-Primary teachers. These circulars provide for the award of incremental credit in respect of prior teaching service, including overseas teaching service, both within and outside the EU and/or relevant non-teaching service.

Where the service/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, if the school offers a range of studies which incorporates all of the courses prescribed on the national curriculum of the State in which the school is located, for which both criteria can be of relevance when examining claims relating to private teaching schools, and the length of time the school has been in existence, must be satisfied 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.

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