Transfer of incremental credits and pensions from outside the EU

27.4.2015

Question for written answer P-006663-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Marian Harkin (ALDE)

I have been contacted by an Irish citizen who is a qualified teacher having trained in Ireland, but who worked in the USA for 13 years, from 1987 to 2000. On her return to teaching in Ireland (as per Department of Education Circular 10/01), the Department of Education would only award her seven years' incremental credits on the pay scale; however, had she worked within the EU during those years, she would have been awarded the full 13 years' incremental credits on the pay scale.

In this connection, and given the impact this will have on her pension on retirement, can the Commission give an opinion as to whether this practice is discriminatory to those Irish-trained teachers who have taught outside the EU?