Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
399. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual net and gross saving to the Exchequer, following implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement if TDs' salaries were capped at €75,000 per annum. [34463/13]
View answer400. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual net and gross saving to the Exchequer, following implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, if Senators' salaries were capped at €60,000 per annum. [34464/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together.
The remuneration of members of the Oireachtas was reduced on 1 July 2013 in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013. This represented a further 5.84% reduction in remuneration for TDs, from €92,672 to €87,258. Senator’s salaries have been reduced to €65,000, in line with the legislation, which provides that the reductions in the legislation shall only operate to reduce remuneration to that level.
The estimated gross saving to the Exchequer should a cap of €60,000 be applied to the basic pay of all Senators and a cap of €75,000 be applied to all TDs, as suggested by the Deputy, is set out in the following table:
|
Positions |
Current Cost per annum |
Capped Cost per annum |
Gross Annual Saving |
|
TDs |
€14,484,828 |
€12,450,000 |
€2,034,828 |
|
Senators* |
€3,900,000 |
€3,600,000 |
€300,000 |
*There are currently 59 Senators, but the estimate has been calculated for the full complement of 60.
It is not possible to estimate the net saving to the Exchequer which would arise from the application of the suggested pay caps as deductions, such as PRSI and income tax, are calculated on an individual basis.
