Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
603. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether Youthreach experience as a resource person is counted for incremental credit when moving into a post-primary teaching role; if so, the reason the same experience is not uniformly recognised for those remaining in Youthreach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9890/26]
View answerThe Department of Education and Youth’s Circular 0023/2023 sets out the criteria for the Award of Incremental Credit to Post Primary Teachers who have prior service as a Youthreach Resource Person or a Youthreach Co-ordinator.
The criteria for the Award of Incremental Credit under circular 0023/2023 states that persons appointed as teachers in a recognised post primary school and who have service as a Youthreach Resource Person or a Youthreach Co-ordinator may apply to have all service in those grades considered as “Previous Approved Teaching Service in the Republic of Ireland” as per Circular 0029/2007.
Circular 0023/2023 only allows for previous service as a Youthreach Resource Person or a Youthreach Co-ordinator to be recognised.
The regulations and procedures in relation to the awarding of incremental credit in recognition of previous equivalent or relevant experience for Youthreach resource persons and Youthreach co-ordinators are governed by Circular 0019/2018. This circular outlines that the awarding of incremental credit in recognition of prior equivalent or relevant experience is at the discretion of the Chief Executive of the respective ETB and, as such, queries regarding same should be directed to the ETB as the employer, in the first instance.
