Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
422. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the monetary full year saving to the Exchequer arising from the Haddington Road agreement measure to increase academic staff working hours by an additional 78 hours per annum; if he will provide the monetary full year additional saving if weekly hours were increased by an additional 45 minutes per week on top of the Haddington Road agreement additional hours. [38646/13]
View answerThe Public Service Stability (Haddington Road) Agreement 2013-2016 arose from an intensive and difficult set of negotiations between the Public Services Committee of ICTU and the Government that took place against a backdrop of continuing significant difficulties in the finances of the State. The savings arising under the Agreement have been incorporated in my Department's revised estimate for 2013 which is available on my Department's website and further details for 2014 and 2015 will be incorporated in the vote allocation in the context of the overall estimates process. Union members in the Higher Education sector are currently balloting on this Agreement and in my view it is better for us all to allow them time and space to reflect and come to their decision. I therefore do not think that it would be helpful to this process for me to articulate the potential impact of any further measures beyond those outlined in the Agreement.
