Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2011
136 Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is reasonable to enforce a 5% cut on individuals who are not public servants as has happened in the case of low paid school caretakers and secretaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/11]
View answerThe Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provides for the reduction in the pay rates of all persons employed by public service bodies, with effect from 1 January 2010. The caretakers and secretaries referred to in the question are deemed to be public servants within the meaning of and for the purposes of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 and this position has been confirmed by legal advice.
I approved a temporary exemption under Section 6 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act for certain categories of workers in the education sector (including certain caretakers and secretaries) until 31 December 2010. Accordingly, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act has been applied to those specific categories of workers in the education sector since 1 January 2011 only. It is understood that approximately €22 million in savings will be secured in 2011 through an average 5% reduction in funding grants to schools and Vocational Educational Committees. The reduced funding will reflect the reduction in pay since 1 January 2011.
