Public Sector Allowances Review

Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016

Friday, 16 September 2016

Questions (898, 899, 900)

David Cullinane

Question:

898. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the public service allowances and premium payments that were abolished as a result of the outcome of the 2012 review of public service allowances and premium payments; the saving achieved by the abolition of these public service allowances and premium payments and for this information to be provided by sector and allowance/premia payment as per appendix A of the 2012 Outcome of the Review of Public Service Allowances and Premium Payments (details supplied) for each of the years 2013 to 2015; if the abolition of the listed public service allowances and premium payments affected new or existing public sector employees or both; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25134/16]

David Cullinane

Question:

899. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the public service allowances and premium payments that were abolished as a result of the outcome of the 2012 review of public service allowances and premium payments but have since been reinstated; and the reason for their reinstating. [25135/16]

David Cullinane

Question:

900. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the figure for the saving achieved in 2012 through the suspension of public service allowances and premium payments for that year. [25136/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 898 to 900, inclusive, together.

Departments were notified in September 2012 of details of the Government Decision in relation to the outcome of the  Review of Public Service Allowances. The letters sent to Departments are published on my Department's website. Approval for payment of an allowance to a new beneficiary pending the outcome of the review was withdrawn from 31st January 2012 and was not restored in the case where the review found that there is no business case for its payment to new beneficiaries.

The Review was initiated centrally by my Department but following the Government Decision it was devolved to the relevant sectors to advance in the context of local circumstances. Because many allowances have been discontinued for new appointees to posts, the precise figures on the number of allowances discontinued and consequently, the number currently in place, is dependent on rates of staff turnover across the public service.