Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 July 2016
896. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of implementing a living wage of €11.50 for all employees directly employed or in agencies funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24156/16]
View answerA suggested living wage of €11.50 per hour would equate to an annual salary of €22,203. This is based on a standard civil service net working week of 37 hours. The annual additional cost of introducing the suggested living wage for those civil servants in my Department currently under this threshold would be in the region of €6,500 per annum. It should be noted that the staff concerned are currently on the first point of a scale and with incremental credit their annual salary will progress past the living wage in due course.
As the information requested is not readily available in respect of the agencies under my Department's remit, I have asked the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Ombudsman for Children's Office, the Children Detention School and the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) to furnish this information directly to the Deputy.
