Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
564. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has examined models used in comparable countries to recognise overseas teaching experience for salary and incremental purposes; whether any costed proposals were considered during recent budget processes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6378/26]
View answerThe criteria for the award of incremental credit are set out in the Department’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 were 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. There is no contractual entitlement to incremental credit.
Criteria such as whether the school is subject to state funding, which 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. 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 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.
The Department of Education and Youth is also working with international partners, including the European Union, Council of Europe, OECD and UNESCO, to enhance international policy co-operation in education and training. UNESCO representatives are leading a European Union-funded research project on Strategic Workforce Planning for Teachers in Ireland. The initiative aims to support the Department of Education and Youth in identifying the key drivers of teacher shortages and developing evidence-based solutions and will deliver recommendations in mid-2026 to ensure the profession remains attractive.
This project brings together stakeholders for a comprehensive review of the drivers of teacher shortages to develop a set of actionable recommendations, accompanied by a roadmap, for effective workforce planning. As part of the project, UNESCO surveyed school principals and teachers to gather critical insights. To support the work, an ad-hoc Working Group has been established, comprising representatives from the Department of Education and Youth, key national stakeholders, and major institutional actors in teacher supply.
Further details in relation to the project are available at: Strategic Workforce Planning for Teachers | UNESCO
www.unesco.org/en/teachers/strategic-workforce-planning
