88. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has plans to recognise the invaluable experiences of young Irish teachers teaching abroad when it comes to their experience on incremental salaries pay scale, particularly post primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46135/26]

The 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; applicants must submit a fully completed incremental credit application to have prior service assessed.

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 accepted and processed by the Department; it is not possible to process an incremental credit application ahead of the teacher’s return to Ireland. An award of incremental credit is based on the incremental credit application submitted to either the Department or an ETB.