Updated: 15 March 2023
Academic Allowances
Academic Allowances for those who entered service prior to 1 January 2011
For teachers who entered service prior to 1 January 2011, a separate qualification allowance is paid in addition to their scale salary.
A range of academic allowances were abolished for all new beneficiaries from 1 February 2012. See Circular 0008/2013 Appendix 2 for more details. The value of the allowances listed below are effective from 1 March 2023, per Circular 07/2023 (PDF), and are subject to the provisions of Circular 0008/2013 (PDF).
Where merited, only one allowance at (a) or (b) may be held together with one of the allowances (c) to (g).
| € | |
|---|---|
| (a) (i) H Dip in Ed (Pass) | €666 |
| (a) (ii) Higher Froebel Cert | €666 |
| (b) (i) H Dip in Ed (1st/2nd Hons) | €1,394 |
| (b) (ii) Ard Teastas Gaeilge | €1,394 |
| (c) Primary Degree (Pass) | €2,078 |
| (d) Masters Degree by Thesis or Exam (Pass) | €5,549 |
| (e) Primary Degree (1st/ 2nd Class Hons) | €5,549 |
| (f) Masters Degree (1st/2nd Hons) | €6,200 |
| (g) Doctors Degree | €6,927 |
Academic Allowances for teachers who entered service on or after 1 January 2011
On 1 January 2018, teachers on the 01.01.2011 to 31.01.2012 scale and post 31.01.2012 scale were merged onto the same scale, creating a new common scale for teachers who entered service on or after 01.01.2011. This scale includes the value of the honours qualification allowance integrated into each point of the scale.
Teachers who entered service between 01.01.2011 and 31.01.2012 may be in receipt of an additional academic allowance if they held the appropriate qualification prior to the abolishment of allowances for all new beneficiaries from 1 February 2012, in line with Circular 0008/2013. Allowances listed below are subject to the provision of Circular 0008/2013 (PDF).
Where merited, only one allowance at (a) or (b) may be held together with one of the allowances (c) to (g).
| € | |
|---|---|
| (a) (i) H Dip in Ed (Pass) | €666 |
| (a) (ii) Higher Froebel Cert | €666 |
| (b) (i) H Dip in Ed (1st/2nd Hons) | €1,394 |
| (b) (ii) Ard Teastas Gaeilge | €1,394 |
| (c) Primary Degree (Pass) | This allowance will no longer be payable as the revised salary scale incorporates the Honours Primary Degree allowance |
| (d) Masters Degree by Thesis or Exam (Pass) | This allowance will no longer be payable as the revised salary scale incorporates the Honours Primary Degree allowance |
| (e) Primary Degree (1st/ 2nd Class Hons) | This allowance will no longer be payable as the revised salary scale incorporates the Honours Primary Degree allowance |
| (f) Masters Degree (1st/2nd Hons) | €652 |
| (g) Doctors Degree | €1,378 |
Circular 0063/2021: Final closing date of 30th April 2022 for receipt of eligible qualification allowance applications (as a Result of the Findings of the Adjudicator under Claim 447/19)
The DE have issued a final closing date of 30 April 2022 for receipt of eligible qualification allowance applications as a result of the findings of the Adjudicator under a claim brought to the Teachers’ Conciliation Council by the Teacher Unions. Teachers who consider that they are entitled to a qualification allowance must make a claim for payment of the allowance before 30 April 2022 using the Application Form in Appendix 5 of the Circular available on Gov.ie. Generally these would be teachers who completed or were completing a qualification which attracted an allowance after their initial teacher education course, and before 5 December 2011.
INTO has prepared an FAQ to assist members in ascertaining if they are eligible for receipt of a qualification allowance. Circular 0063/2021 and these FAQs will apply to a very small cohort of teachers.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is the purpose of Circular 0063/2021?
The purpose of the Circular is to notify teachers of a revised final closing date of the 30th April, 2022 for receipt of applications for outstanding qualification allowances.
2. What qualification allowances are eligible to be claimed under the provisions of this Circular?
The eligible qualification allowances which are subject to certain criteria include:
• Primary degree (Pass or Honours)
• Master’s Degree (Pass or Honours)
• Doctorates Degree
• Higher Diploma in Education allowance (Pass)/Higher Froebel Cert
• Higher Diploma in Education allowance (Honours)/Ard Teastas Gaeilge
• Higher Diploma in Education allowance (Pass or Honours)
• Post Primary PGCEs obtained in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
Some of the allowances listed above may only be applicable to primary or post primary teachers but not both. In addition, some of these allowances will only apply to teachers who entered teaching prior to 1st January, 2011. For further detail on allowances which may be claimed refer to Appendices 1 and 2 of DE Circular 0063/2021.
3. I’m unsure if I am in receipt of my appropriate qualification allowance or my additional qualification allowance(s). What should I do?
Firstly, you should check your payslip. Teachers eligible to be paid a qualification allowance will have their allowances listed on the lefthand side of their payslip under Gross Earnings. You can also check with the Payroll section of the Department or the relevant ETB.
4. What must I consider to determine if I have an entitlement to a qualification allowance or an additional qualification allowance?
The matters for consideration include:
(A) The date you were first appointed to an Oireachtas funded teaching position
AND
(B) The date of your first qualified teaching service
A teacher first appointed to an Oireachtas funded teaching position before 1st February 2012 may have an entitlement to an additional teaching qualification, depending on the date of their first qualified service. Please refer to the Practice Direction at Appendix 3 of Circular 63/2021 as this sets out the entitlement to a qualification allowance, depending on the date of a teacher’s first appointment to an Oireachtas funded teaching position, and the date of their first qualified service. The DE will rely on this Practice Direction to determine a teacher’s entitlement to a qualification allowance.
A teacher first appointed to an Oireachtas funded teaching position on or after 1st February 2012 whose date of first qualified teaching service is on or after that date does not have an entitlement to any additional qualification allowance.
AND
(C) The course of further study undertaken by you. This was either:
Completed by you prior to 5th December 2011
and/or
Being actively undertaken by you on 5th December 2011 and you did not cease to be a registered student on that course before its completion
5. I had previous teaching service in an analogous teaching position in the public service of another EU Member state. Will this be recognized for claiming a qualification allowance or additional qualification allowances?
Yes. Service in another EU Member state will be recognized on the same basis as if such service was given in Ireland when determining the appropriate salary scale and allowances, where applicable, payable to you. You should also refer to DE Circular 0027/2016.
6. I was first appointed to an Oireachtas funded post (Qualified or Unqualified) on or after 1st February 2012. Will I be entitled to claim a qualification allowance?
As you were first appointed to an Oireachtas funded post on or after 1st February 2012, you will not be entitled to claim for an additional qualification allowance.
7. After 5th December 2011, I commenced and completed a further course of study leading to an additional qualification. Am I entitled to claim the allowance for that qualification?
As you commenced and completed the course of further study on or after the 5th December 2011 you will not be entitled to claim an allowance for that additional qualification.
8. After 5th December 2011, I commenced and completed an SEN course leading to an additional qualification. Am I entitled to claim the allowance for that qualification?
As the SEN allowance is a role-based allowance and not a qualification allowance you will not be entitled to claim for that qualification. Furthermore, any course of study commenced on or after 5th December 2011 does not attract a qualification allowance.
9. I had commenced a course of study prior to the 5th December 2011 but ceased the course for a period of time on or after the 5th December 2011. I subsequently recommenced and completed the course leading to an additional qualification. Will I be entitled to claim an additional allowance?
No. As you had ceased to be a registered student on or after 5th December 2011 prior to the completion of your course you will not be entitled to claim an additional allowance for that qualification.
10. I hold a post-graduate primary teacher training qualification. Will I be entitled to claim an allowance for this qualification?
No. This qualification does not attract a Higher Diploma in Education allowance.
11. I have reviewed the Circular and these FAQs and believe that I have an entitlement to an outstanding qualification allowance. What should I do?
You should make the application on the form TSNA-QA1. This is included as Appendix 5 in Circular 0063/2021. As this is the final deadline you should make you application as soon as possible in advance of the revised closing date of 30th April, 2022. Upon posting to the DE, it is strongly advised that you retain certified proof of postage.
12. I previously applied but was deemed ineligible because my application was not received before the previous closing date. Should I apply again?
Yes, if the reason you were deemed ineligible was because your application was not received before the previous closing date, you should apply again, if you feel you meet the criteria for claiming qualification allowances.
13. I previously applied but was deemed ineligible. Should I apply again?
It is likely that you were deemed ineligible because you did not meet the criteria for the award of the allowance. If you have additional information (requisite documentation, proof of entitlement to the qualified rate of pay etc.) which was not provided to and considered by the Department as part of your previous application, you should apply again.
14. I am having difficulty locating and/or obtaining the requisite documentation for my application. What should I do?
You should immediately contact your course provider or awarding institution. They may be able to assist you with the requisite documentation.
15. I am a teacher who entered service prior to 1st January 2011, where can I find the current rates for qualification allowances?
The current rates for qualification allowances are outlined in DE Circular 007/2023.
Eligibility for a qualification allowance and/or an additional qualification allowance.
The following Infograph should be read in conjunction with DE Circular 0063/2021.
Click here to view this Infographic.
Promoted Post Allowances
Principals’ Allowances
Effective from 1 March 2023
| Category | € |
|---|---|
| I (1-5) | €13,806 |
| II (6-7) | €13,806 |
| III (8-11) | €16,200 |
| IV (12-13) | €18,845 |
| V (14-16) | €21,529 |
| VI (17-19) | €24,126 |
| VII (20-23) | €26,753 |
| VIII (24-26) | €28,685 |
| IX (27-30) | €30,681 |
| X (31-35) | €33,591 |
| XI (36-40) | €35,559 |
| XII (41-50) | €39,363 |
| XIII (51-60) | €40,646 |
| XIV (61+) | €44,086 |
Size of school by total number of authorised teaching posts inclusive of principals indicated by brackets
Revised rates under Building Momentum public service agreement 2021 – 2022, circular 64/2022
Deputy Principals’ Allowances
Effective from 1 October 2022
| Category | € |
|---|---|
| I (1-5) | €7,356 |
| II (6-7) | €7,356 |
| III (8-11) | €9,220 |
| IV (12-13) | €11,025 |
| V (14-16) | €12,910 |
| VI (17-19) | €14,723 |
| VII (20-23) | €16,504 |
| VIII (24-26) | €17,908 |
| IX (27-30) | €19,277 |
| X (31-35) | €21,396 |
| XI (36-40) | €22,708 |
| XII (41-50) | €25,546 |
| XIII (51-60) | €26,102 |
| XIV (61+) | €28,518 |
Size of school by total number of authorised teaching posts inclusive of principals indicated by brackets
Revised rates under Building Momentum public service agreement 2021 – 2022, circular 0064/2022
Graded Posts
| € | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Principal (AP1) | 9,611 |
| Special Duties Post (AP2) | 4,252 |
Other Allowances
A number of role based allowances were abolished for all new beneficiaries (those teachers who were accruing a new entitlement to an allowance) from 1 February 2012. These cuts also affected teachers currently in receipt of a specified allowance who subsequently moved from their school. See Circular 0008/2013 (PDF) Appendix 2 and 4 for more details. Allowances listed below effective from 1 March 2023, per Circular 007/2023 (PDF) and are subject to the provision of Circular 0008/2013.
| € | |
|---|---|
| Teaching Through Irish Allowance* | €1,785 |
| Gaeltacht Allowance* | €3,455 |
| Island Allowance* | €2,078 |
| Long Service Allowance (for teachers with 35 years’ service) | €2,621 |
| Visit Teaching Allowance | €8,968 |
| Special Education Diploma* | €2,749 |
*Abolished for new beneficiaries appointed post 1 February 2012 and for those moving school after this date.
Note: On 1 October 2020 there was a reversal of the 5% allowance cut of 2010 under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA).
Secure Unit Allowance
Through the Teachers’ Conciliation Council, the INTO pursued an allowance for members who work in secure units. The adjudication process supported the INTO’s claim in October 2016, but as no cost-increasing claims were permissible the claim was not settled.
Circular 0017/2022 settles this claim for Primary teachers who work in certain secure units/secure care settings.
The payment of the Secure Unit Allowance, currently paid to teachers working in the Oberstown Detention Centre, is being extended to primary teachers in the following four special care units:
- Ballydowd in Dublin
- Crannog Nua in Dublin
- St. Canice’s Special School in Limerick and
- Coláiste Árd Álainn in Cork
The rate applicable is set out below, and is effective from 1 March 2023
| Allowance | Rate from 1/03/2023 |
| Secure Unit Allowance | €2,477 |
