EAL hours for New Entrant Pupils

A teacher appointed to work these hours may be offered a specified purpose contract.

The hours are sanctioned based on the number of New Entrant Pupils enrolled in the school. Schools are required to notify the DE if their enrolment changes, using the form Prim-EAL 2024/25 (PDF) and the hours may be adjusted accordingly. Therefore, it is not possible for a school to offer a fixed-term contract, with a certain end-date.

A specified purpose contract for New Entrant EAL hours will end on the earlier of – the 30 June of the school year, or when the new entrant pupils leave the school.

Primary teacher appointments must be made in accordance with Circular 0044/2019.

The procedure for making a short-term appointment, which is a position anticipated to be for fewer than 24 calendar weeks, is set out in Chapter 2, part 4 of this circular.

EAL supports are allocated on the OLCS and reflect the often uncertain and urgent nature of the enrolment of New Entrant Pupils. The allocation on the OLCS is flexible to match this evolving position, and therefore it is difficult for a school to be definitive about the duration of the contract being filled.

Yes, teachers will be paid at their personal hourly or daily rate, reflecting their point on the incremental scale, in these positions, from the outset of their contract.

 

The salary arrangement in these roles is comparable to that of a non-casual substitute. (See details here for how to work out the daily non-casual substitute rate. A teachers’ hourly rate would be their daily rate divided by five.)

Yes, these teachers are employed on a non-casual basis, and should have the same terms and conditions as their permanent colleagues, for the duration of their contract. This includes access to their own paid leave, in line with the relevant DE circulars.

 

However, as these EAL teachers are paid through the OLCS, payment for any leave will have to be claimed using the Substitute for a Substitute form. If the EAL teacher is absent on a substitutable absence, the school will be able to employ a substitute for that day, paid through the OLCS.

These EAL hours are paid through the OLCS, and teachers appointed to them will be paid only for the hours or days worked but will receive a higher hourly or daily rate to account for this.

Although these teachers will not receive a regular fortnightly salary during school closures, holiday pay does accrue for each hour or day worked and will be paid in three tranches during the school year, prior to Christmas and Easter, and in July.

The salary paid in these roles is comparable to that paid to a non-casual substitute. (See details here for how to work out the daily non-casual substitute rate. A teachers’ hourly rate would be their daily rate divided by five.)

Yes, these teachers are employed as non-casual teachers from the outset of their contracts and will be able to avail of their own paid leave, in line with relevant DE circulars.

There is no arrangement for banking of hours. While the hours will not expire until the end of the school year, the allocated hours on the OLCS must be used at a point in time.

The Department of Education has confirmed that teachers on a career break can undertake substitute teaching and EAL hours for New Entrant Pupils.

Under the normal terms of circular 54/2019, teachers on career break are limited to 90 days of substitute teaching in the school year.

Yes, a teacher who is participating in a job share may be appointed to work additional EAL hours, subject to their not being employed for more than full-time hours in total.

Yes, a fixed-term replacement teacher, who is working in a job share, may be appointed to work additional EAL hours, subject to their not being employed for more than full-time hours in total.

Yes, a teacher on Carer’s leave may be appointed to work EAL hours provided they meet the criteria which include obtaining permission from the DSP, the aggregate hours do not exceed the statutory 18.5-hour weekly limit, and the net earnings do not exceed the approved weekly limit. (€450 per week after tax). Teachers on carer’s leave undertaking these hours should ensure that these limits are not breached.

Yes. These EAL hours will count toward the appointed teacher’s incremental progression.

If a teacher has only earned two incremental points for their non-permanent service when applying to the Supplementary Panel, they may still be eligible if they also hold a contract at the December deadline to the end of the school year.

A contract for EAL hours will satisfy this condition, as long as the teacher remains in employment to the end of the school year.

The terms and conditions as outlined and contained in the FAQs above apply to these hours. They are paid in the same manner as NE-EAL hours.