Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1976

Vol. 295 No. 3

Vote 51: Remuneration.

Minister for Finance (Mr. R. Ryan)

I move:

That a supplementary sum not exceeding £4,134,300 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 1976, for Remuneration.

This Supplementary Estimate is required to meet the cost of pay increases on nine Votes. The Votes concerned are set out in part 3 of the Supplementary Estimates which cover the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Revenue Commissioners, the State Laboratory, the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests, the National Gallery, the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and the Department of Defence. The amount sought is required to meet the following increases: the cost of the interim national wage agreement, 3 per cent plus £2 per week, subject to a minimum payment of £3 or a maximum of £5 with effect from 1st August, 1976; the cost of abolishing sex discrimination in the public service, with effect from 1st January, 1976; the cost of increased employer social welfare contributions, effective from 5th April, 1976, and the cost of certain minor special pay increases.

Mr. Colley

My recollection—it is not good enough without having the Minister's budget statement in front of me—is that the Minister stated then he was not making provision in respect of these items. Am I correct in thinking that in the total budgetary calculations there was no contingency provision in respect of the consequences of the interim national pay agreement which had not been then concluded?

Mr. R. Ryan

That is correct.

Mr. Colley

If that is so, can the Minister indicate what the overall increase to the Exchequer is in respect of the various pay increases?

Mr. R. Ryan

In respect of the interim national pay agreement the increased cost to the taxpayer in 1976 is £15 million; for a full year, which will be applicable to 1977, the cost will be £40 million. That is to say that the carry over cost of the 1976 increase into 1977 will, on an annual basis, be £50 million.

Mr. Colley

That is the increase arising out of the interim national pay agreement?

Mr. R. Ryan

Yes.

Mr. Colley

The Minister mentioned some other items and I should like to know if they are included in that sum. If not, what will the additional cost be?

Mr. R. Ryan

No, in relation to the abolition of sex discrimination a provision of £2.5 million was made in the January budget. The major portion of the provision, £2.4 million, applies to teachers. However, of the total cost of £2.5 million the sum of £1.75 can be met by savings on Votes generally, leaving £.75 million to be allocated by way of Supplementary Estimates on individual Votes.

Mr. Colley

Is that in the present year?

Mr. R. Ryan

Yes.

Mr. Colley

Would the Minister have the figure for a full year as he had in relation to the last matter?

Mr. R. Ryan

As the increases are effective for the full calendar year of 1976 this will represent the annual cost.

Mr. Colley

Did the Minister mention some other items?

Mr. R. Ryan

Social Welfare contributions which were effective from 5th April last, the employers' contribution, costs £3.5 million in 1976, of which £.4 million can be met by savings on Votes generally, leaving £3.1 million net to be allocated by way of Supplementary Estimates. On individual Votes it will be £2.1 million and in this Vote £1 million.

Mr. Colley

What kind of employees would be involved? The whole public service is not involved?

Mr. R. Ryan

No. We are dealing with the civil service and the Defence Forces. I have not the ranks to which they refer.

Mr. Colley

I did not really want the specific ranks but clearly they are not what are normally understood by the term "civil servant".

Mr. R. Ryan

No, I can give the Deputy a break down of the actual cost involved. In the Houses of the Oireachtas the actual increase is £3,000; the Department of the Taoiseach, £250, Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, £500; Revenue Commissioners, £50,000; State Laboratory, £800; Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests, £100; National Gallery, £1,300; Department of Posts and Telegraphs, £550,000, and Department of Defence, £450,000.

Vote put and agreed to.