ASTI general secretary Pat King has criticised suggestions that certain allowances paid to teachers should be abolished, claiming such a move would be a breach of the Croke Park Agreement.

Minister for public expenditure and reform Brendan Howlin is pushing for a review of the Island Allowance, Gaeltacht Allowance, Allowance for Teaching through Irish and the Allowance for Principals Serving as Secretary to a Board of Management.

According to the Irish Independent, more than 5,000 teachers face losing their allowances if the government goes ahead with the proposal to cut funding.

The Gaeltacht grant is worth €3,063 and is paid to 780 primary and post-primary teachers, while 1,800 receive €1,583 for teaching through Irish.

Around 30 teachers are paid a subsidy of €1,842 as part of the island allowance, while 2,750 primary and post-primary teachers receive an allowance of between €532 and €1,572.

Mr King claimed that these allowances form an "integral part of these teachers' pay" and should continue to be paid as teachers "have delivered everything asked from them" under the Croke Park deal.

Written by Donal Walsh

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