Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2016
8. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the serious low morale young primary school teachers are experiencing due to the their low level of starting pay; the impact of this on the education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18259/16]
View answerThe Government has committed to establishing a public service pay commission to examine pay levels across the public service, including entry pay levels. The terms of reference and timescale for the commission's work are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Government recognises the importance of being able to attract quality new entrants to the public service, particularly so in important professions like education. The restrictions in entry pay levels were introduced in 2011 and 2012 across the public service at a time when the pressure on public finances was severe and the scope for new recruitment was restricted. Under the Lansdowne Road agreement, the process of restoring public service pay is commencing. An important feature of this is the flat rate increase that is being implemented. This is proportionately more valuable to those early in their careers. Restoration of the supervision and substitution payment is provided for subject to co-operation with the Lansdowne Road agreement. The agreement did not address the issue of pay of new entrants.
My Department continues to seek to engage with teacher unions on issues of mutual concern and has recently reached agreement with the INTO and TUI in respect of discussions to improve the position of teachers in fixed-term and part-time teaching, a robust review of in-school management structures and an increase in the quantum of the extra Croke Park hours that do not have to be worked on a whole-school basis. The Government has also indicated that it will support the gradual negotiated unwinding of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
My party supports the principle of equal treatment for newly recruited public servants, including those in the education sector. New entrants in the teaching profession do not receive the same allowances as long-serving teachers. This cannot be justified and is corroding morale within schools. It is wrong that an important profession like teaching has a two-tier salary system. We are all proud of our education system. Despite the funding pressures of the past eight years, our teachers are providing a top-class service. Everything must be done to ensure that morale is restored. Future pay agreements should focus on equalising pay for new entrants. My party is committed to restoring full equality of treatment for teachers. Will the Minister make the same commitment on behalf of the Government?
I welcome the establishment of a public sector pay commission to examine pay levels across the public service, including entry pay levels. This was a key demand of our party in the discussions on facilitating a minority Government. We will contribute constructively to the commission when it is established and seek an early conclusion of its work.
In the Deputy's question, he recognised that this measure applied across the public service. It is not confined to teaching. Indeed, it applies in the House where newer Deputies are on lower pay than long-standing ones. It will be resolved across the public service and within the context of collective agreements, which is the importance of the Lansdowne Road agreement.
We are determined to unwind FEMPI, but we must realise that there are crying needs to be met. For example, the House just discussed special education, and there are major needs to be met in health, education and housing. The Lansdowne Road agreement offers a way of balancing people's rightful ambition to see pay restored with the need to invest in public services. This is the Government's approach while recognising the importance of the issue the Deputy has raised.
With these young teachers taking on extra financial burdens as they enter their late 20s and early 30s, it is essential that their pay levels be restored. Some parents must still support children who are fully qualified and in full-time employment. This system will not attract the quality of teacher we want. The sooner that equal pay for all can be introduced, the better it will be for the education system.
Teachers have a rightful case to make for the restoration of pay. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, pointed out that the Lansdowne Road agreement would cost the State €300 million this year. If the whole agreement was unwound in one go, it would cost €1.4 billion, more than double what is likely to be available for spending in the forthcoming budget. In recognising the pressures on hospital, housing, education and so on, a balance must be struck. That is what the Lansdowne Road agreement does. The pay commission will offer an open opportunity to address the issue the Deputy has raised.
Notwithstanding the fact that this matter is officially under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and Skills is one of the key Departments affected by it. Throughout the recession, young teachers were employed because we needed teachers whereas staff were not taken on in other areas of the public service. A large cohort of young teachers have been in position for up to four or five years and rightly feel aggrieved and badly treated. I suggest the Minister make this matter a policy priority for his Department in its budget negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Government.
This issue has started to be addressed within the context of the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road agreements, in that the former introduced an element of co-ordination of payscales to counter some of the impact. Under the Lansdowne Road agreement, teachers will get a flat-rate increase of €1,000 as well as the substitution payment of €796. These will be proportionally more valuable to young teachers at the bottom of the scale.
As the pay commission gets established, this matter will be a priority concern. It has not only been raised by teacher unions but by many groups across the public service. It needs to be addressed but in a collective approach to bargaining, which is the approach being taken by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I support that approach.
