Public Sector Allowances Review

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2012

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Questions (82)

Michael Creed

Question:

82. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish details of all the allowances paid to public servants which his Department recently considered; if he will also publish the business case which his Department received in respect of each allowance, the communication which he has had with public sector unions on the issue of these allowances in the context of the Croke Park agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40954/12]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Following consideration by Government of my proposals in relation to the outcome of the review, details of classes of allowances on which Government decided will be

(a) abolished for new beneficiaries,

(b) approved for new beneficiaries subject to review and/or modification, and

(c) approved for new beneficiaries,

are publicly available on my Departments’ website (www.per.gov.ie). Lists of allowances and business cases submitted for review by my Department have also been published.

For allowances currently held by serving incumbents, there are two separate categories. Where the amount of the allowances does not represent a significant proportion of the current recipients' pay, sectoral management will immediately engage with staff representatives to negotiate elimination of these payments, using every possible avenue available under the current Croke Park Agreement. For those large allowances, which represent a significant element of the recipients’ pay, management will be acting immediately, at sectoral level, to open discussions with a view to consolidating these allowances into the core pay of the recipients.