Vol. 403 No. 8
15 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the special public service pay awards which are due to be paid in 1991; the total cost of these awards; and if it is the intention of the Government to honour them in full.
53 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline and itemise for each group in the Civil Service who will commence to benefit from special pay awards in 1991 the following: (1) the grade or grades affected, (2) the number of people eligible, (3) the percentage increase in total, (4) the period over which the award will be phased in, if appropriate, and (5) the total cost in 1991 of each group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 53 together.
Significant claims from the following groups of public servants, other than civil servants, are the subject of awards or agreements, the first phases of which are expected to be paid in 1991: gardaí, general nurses, psychiatric nurses, medical laboratory technician grades, paramedical grades in the health service, community medicine doctors and certain professional grades in State bodies. The estimated cost of meeting the phase of these awards due for payment in 1991 is £17.7 million.
As regards the Civil Service, information on the basis requested in respect of the most significant claims which are the subject of awards or agreements due to arise for payment in 1991, is as follows:
|
Grade |
Numbers |
Percentage Increase |
Estimated cost in 1991 |
|
Prison Officers |
2,150 |
10 |
£0.75 million |
|
Laboratory Technicians |
200 |
10 |
£0.075 million |
|
Engineer Grade 1 and Related Grades |
250 |
8.5 |
£0.160 million |
All of the foregoing claims fall to be implemented under the terms of clause 3.4 of the elaboration of clause 3 of the 1987 Public Service Pay Agreement, which was agreed with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. This provides for payment on the following basis:— 40 per cent with effect from 1 May 1991, 30 per cent with effect from 1 March 1992, and 30 per cent with effect from 1 September 1992.
Provision has been included in the 1991 Estimates for the Public Services for the aforementioned awards and it is my intention that the appropriate phased amount will be paid in 1991.
In addition to the foregoing, there is a number of claims on hands which have not yet been processed to finality under the appropriate clauses of the pay agreement. Deputies will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to speculate on the likely outcome of such cases. However, should the question of payments in respect of such cases arise in 1991, it would be my intention to make any necessary financial provision in the budget as is customary.
(Limerick East): Will the Minister outline what categories of public servants have claims in the pipeline analogous to those already awarded?
It is part of the list I have already read out, gardaí, nurses——
(Limerick East): The Minister is referring to those already awarded; I am talking about the forthcoming list.
There will be awards to junior doctors, teachers, assistant principals, principal officers in the Civil Service and related grades. Hospital consultants will also be included.
(Limerick East): What is the estimated cost of the awards in the pipeline? Will they be conceded on the same basis as those already awarded?
The potential cost is £120 million.
