Incremental Credit

Under the Scheme, as set out in DEY Circular 10/2001, incremental credit may be awarded to qualified primary teachers in Oireachtas-funded posts in recognition of previous teaching service abroad / in private schools.  Incremental credit may also be awarded for relevant non-teaching service.  Where an award of incremental credit is agreed, the teacher will progress on the incremental salary scale.  For example, an award of one year of incremental credit equates to one incremental point.

No, incremental credit is not a statutory entitlement.  The Scheme was negotiated and agreed between INTO and the DEY.

Incremental progression means moving up the salary scale; this happens automatically when a teacher is being paid their salary from Oireachtas funds and no application needs to be made.  One year of teaching service equates to one increment.

Incremental credit may be awarded in respect of teaching service in a school abroad or a private school in Ireland.   An application for incremental credit must be made and if successful, the result is an upwards adjustment of a teacher’s scale point.

The teaching service abroad for which incremental credit is being claimed must have been in a school which is the equivalent of a primary or post-primary school in the Republic of Ireland.  Where a qualified primary teacher is claiming incremental credit for teaching service in a post-primary school abroad, they must also have a post-primary teaching qualification.

The teaching service for which incremental credit is being claimed must have been remunerated and satisfactory.  The school in which the service was given must be subject to state inspection and offer a range of studies which incorporates all the courses prescribed on the National Curriculum for the State in question.

To to be recognised for the award of incremental credit, the service given must have been remunerated and satisfactory.  Under the terms of the Scheme, a private school is defined as one which has been in existence for a period of at least 10 years and which 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.  It must also offer a full range of classes to all pupils within its designated range.  It must funded by the payment of pupil fees and remain open to receive pupils for the duration of the primary school year.

Credit for service given in private schools in the Republic of Ireland during an approved period of unpaid leave cannot be claimed e.g. career break.

No, there is no cap.  However, the eligibility requirements of the Scheme must be met for an award to be made.

Yes, seven years’ incremental credit is the maximum award that can be made.

No.  When incremental credit is being claimed for teaching service, the service in question must have been qualified.

You will need to be working as a teacher in Ireland at the time your application is submitted for it to be valid.

Route 4 teachers are eligible for the award of incremental credit in respect of teaching service in a special setting only.

For non-teaching service to be recognised for the award of incremental credit, the service given must have been remunerated, satisfactory and relevant to primary teaching.  Only service in the Republic of Ireland can be considered for the award of incremental credit.  Under the terms of the Scheme, incremental credit cannot be awarded for relevant non-teaching service undertaken during a period of unpaid leave e.g. career break.

Five years’ incremental credit is the maximum award that can be made.

Yes, an application for incremental credit can be made for relevant non-teaching service which was undertaken while completing the PME.

If your application is for the award of incremental credit for qualified teaching service in the equivalent of a primary school, there is no deadline.  However, it is advisable to submit your application as soon as you can once you have resumed working as a teacher in Ireland.

If your application is for the award of incremental credit for qualified teaching service in the equivalent of a post-primary school, your application must be submitted within two years from the date of your initial appointment / return to service in Ireland.

You will need to complete and submit the Incremental Credit Application Form available here: Incremental Credit for Teachers and Special Needs Assistants (gov.ie). Section 1 of the form should be completed by you.  Where the application is in respect of teaching service abroad/in a private school, Section 2 of the form by the school authority of the school(s) in which the service was given.  Where the application is in respect of relevant non-teaching service, Section 3 of the form should be completed by the previous employer.

To be eligible for Incremental Credit purposes, the service in question must be capable of being verified.  Every effort must be made by an applicant to obtain certification of service. Where it is not possible to verify the previous service (teaching or non-teaching) arising from the loss/non-availability of official records e.g. through school amalgamation, school / employer closure etc. other records may be considered to make service reckonable for Incremental Credit.

These sources may include a combination of multiple records from:

1. • The school authority and/or the patron Body of the school or other management body of the school if outside the jurisdiction.
   • The school which replaced the school where the service was given as in the case of an amalgamation.
   • The former Principal/Deputy Principal or a former colleague.
   • Any other known source such as the local Revenue Office or Department of Social Protection (or equivalent from outside the jurisdiction).

Examples of such may include, though not limited to:

1. • Past payslips / P.60 Records (or equivalent).
   • Revenue records including PAYE/PRSI records (or equivalent).
   • Previous references that the teacher may have received from the employer.
   • Confirmation of employment from a colleague who they would have worked with at that time. In such instances, an appropriately completely Affidavit from the relevant colleague will be required.

Any of the above information supplied must also be supplemented by an appropriately signed Affidavit by the claimant of Incremental Credit. The Witness to the signatory must be a Commissioner for Oaths or a practising solicitor. The blank Affidavit is available here.  Where the service was provided in lieu of an absent existing teacher, the name of the teacher who was absent (if known) and the reason for the absence should be stated. The reason as to why these employment records are not available must be stated by the applicant and verified.

It is then a matter for the DEY to determine if the information contained in addition to the affidavit can be accepted as reckonable for incremental service.

It may take several weeks for your application to be processed.

You will receive a letter from the DEY Incremental Credit Unit notifying you of the outcome of your application.  If your application is successful, the letter will also be forwarded to the DEY Payroll Section so that your scale point can be adjusted.

There is no appeal process in respect of applications for incremental credit for teaching service abroad / in a private school.

A teacher may appeal a decision to limit or refuse a claim of incremental credit for relevant non-teaching service to an independent appeals committee.

Yes, the award of incremental credit will be backdated.

Incremental credit and incremental skips are two different processes and are independent of each other.  Where a teacher’s scale point is being adjusted due to an award of incremental credit, incremental skips are not applied.  Rather, increment skip(s) will be applied, as appropriate, on the next increment date.  For example:

Mark commenced on the payroll on 1st September 2022 and received 8 years incremental credit for previous qualified teaching service abroad. The incremental progression is as follows:

01/09/2022 – Point 9 (this includes 8 years incremental credit)

01/09/2023 – Point 13 (1 normal and 3 increment skips at points 4, 8 and 12)

01/09/2024 – Point 14