Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
925. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe of the Public Service Pay Commission, with particular reference to addressing the pay inequality issue for teachers, some of whom have effectively lost €20,000 over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26019/16]
View answerOn the 19th July last, the Government approved the estalishment of a Public Service Pay Commission, which was a commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government. A public consultation was commenced over the summer months in relation to the role and methodology of the Commission. In addition, officials within my Department will be meeting with key stakeholders in the coming weeks, to further discuss these matters, in accordance with the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. I will be reverting to Government with more detailed proposals when these processes have concluded.
In relation to the Deputy's reference to new entrant teachers, as I previously advised the issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between public servants, who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date has already been addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 - 2018 (Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road Agreements). The Programme for Government commits the Government to fully implementing the Agreement.
The Programme also states that the Pay Commission will examine pay levels across the public service, including entry levels of pay. It is important to emphasise that it is only within the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement that any further consideration of remuneration adjustment for any group of public servants, including issues relating to more recently recruited public servants, will fall to be examined. Any measures taken will also have to comply with the terms of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 - 2015 (FEMPI) as well as delivering the necessary productivity and other workplace change that will underpin their affordability. The issue of the incremental salary scales for those New Entrant Teachers who entered employment since February 2012 is currently being progressed in discussions with those Teacher Unions who are signed up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
