Redundancy Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2013

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

Questions (182, 183)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

182. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 265 to 267, inclusive, of 5 November 2013, which states his Department has directed third level institutions to apply the terms of the collective agreement on enhanced redundancy, the reason an institution (details supplied) in County Galway is not complying with these agreements, resulting in research staff recently made redundant having to apply to the Labour Relations Commission to claim redundancy; if this institution's decision to not comply with the agreement has the approval of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52648/13]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

183. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a Labour Relations Commission case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52649/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.

The payment of an ex gratia amount in addition to statutory redundancy is not an automatic entitlement and while institutions are precluded from exceeding the terms of the collective agreement on enhanced redundancy, it is entirely a matter for an individual employer to decide whether to seek the sanction of the Department to make an enhanced payment in line with the agreement. It is my understanding that the University in question has an existing policy in relation to the payment of redundancy which pre-dates the collective agreement and which it has consistently applied in the case of the termination of all fixed-term contracts, including research contracts.