Paul Bradford
Question:28 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he believes the concept of benchmarking will operate in the context of a further review of teachers' pay. [6886/01]
Vol. 532 No. 2
28 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which he believes the concept of benchmarking will operate in the context of a further review of teachers' pay. [6886/01]
The establishment of the public service benchmarking body was agreed as an integral part of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness arrangements on public service pay. It has been agreed between the Public Services Committee of ICTU and the Government employers that certain selected grades only shall be subject to detailed examination by the benchmarking body. The teaching grades to be examined include principal, deputy principal, assistant principal, special duties teacher and teacher in the primary and post-primary sectors. The public service benchmarking body has been asked to produce its report and recommendations by 30 June 2002. A single report is to be produced covering all grades, groups and categories within the benchmarking body's terms of reference.
Benchmarking is basically about comparing public service pay and jobs with pay and jobs across the economy with a view to ensuring that public service pay rates compare favourably with comparable employment in the private sector. This was the objective of the Government and the public service unions in framing the benchmarking process and establishing the public service benchmarking body.
Benchmarking is not about performance related pay. The benchmarking exercise involves much more than a pay review in the traditional sense. As well as examining pay rates, the benchmarking body will examine and compare existing roles, duties and responsibilities in the public service and across the economy. This is designed to ensure that it does not look simply at the pay rates applicable to jobs with similar titles but also looks at the jobs themselves to establish how comparable they are. In undertaking its research it also has to have regard to differences between the public service and the private sector, and between different groups in the public service, in working conditions, the way the work is organised, conditions of employment and other benefits.