Incremental Credit

Second Level
Whole-time teachers and EPTs with two years’ full-time training enter the salary scale at the first or minimum point of the scale.  Whole-time teachers and EPTs with three years’ full-time training enter the scale at the second point.  Whole-time teachers and EPTs with four years’ or more full-time training enter the scale at the third point.

In 2000 significant improvements were agreed under Agreed Report 10/2000.  It was agreed to grant incremental credit for all teaching service given in recognised equivalent schools/colleges in the European Union.  In terms of incremental credit for other teaching service it has been agreed to grant incremental credit to second level teachers for wholetime teaching service in private primary level colleges and third level colleges with effect from 1st September 2000.  

It was agreed to award incremental credit for relevant non-teaching service and teaching service abroad to EPTs on the same basis as full time teachers with effect from 1st September 2000.  EPTs were also awarded length of training increments with effect from 1st September 2001.  Discussions are ongoing in relation to the Union's claims in respect of recognition and aggregation of part-time teaching service within the wider context of the implementation of the Part-Time Work Act. 

It was agreed to establish an appeals committee to evaluate existing criteria for the recognition of relevant non-teaching service and to consider cases where claims for the award of incremental credit for relevant non-teaching service were refused. In respect of Incremental Credit claims it is essential that full documentation is provided to the employer by the claimant with regard to qualifications taken and the nature of previous service.   See CL 09/02.        

Third level
The normal expectation is and will continue to be that appointees will be admitted to the relevant salary scale at the minimum point of the scale.

The main, if not the only, circumstances to be taken into account in recommending salary above the minimum in any particular case are that the proposed appointee has:

1. experience which may be regarded as appropriate to the requirements of the appointment being offered and deemed to be of comparable level

                and/or

2. experience in business, industry or other analogous fields of a character and at a level which, for the purposes of the grant of incremental credit, may be equated with the experience mentioned at (1) 

               and

3. earnings in the twelve month period prior to appointment which exceed the minimum point of the relevant scale.  Claimed earnings must be supported by confirmation from the Revenue Commissioners.            

In any appointment the number of increments to be awarded above the minimum point of the appropriate scale may not exceed five (i.e. the sixth point of the scale).
Recognition of previous teaching experience is dealt with number the terms of Circular Letter IT5/99.