Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
219. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the nature of his agreement with INTO and TUI in respect of pay for newly qualified teachers; the value of the pay disparity that will still remain between the original starting salary of teachers in 2010 and current new entrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31857/16]
View answerThe recent agreement with TUI and INTO in the context of the Lansdowne Road Agreement will mean a significant pay increase for new entrant teachers. The full text of the agreement is available on my Department's website at the following address:
http://www.education.ie/en/Education-Staff/Information/Public-Service-Stability-Agreement-Haddington-Road/New-Entrant-Pay-Issue-and-Related-Commitments.pdf .
The agreement substantially addresses the current difference in pay between those recruited since 2011 and those recruited since 2012. It will result in increases of up to €2,000 per year for new teachers at the start of their careers. The increase varies depending on the point of scale that a teacher is on - the highest increase being €7,700 and the increase at the maximum of the scale being €4,300. It is estimated that over a teacher's career the value of these increases will be €135,000. This, in combination with measures already agreed and implemented under the Haddington Road Agreement, will restore approximately three quarters of the reductions for new entrants put in place since 2011 in terms of career earnings.
The revised salary arrangement will be implemented in two phases on 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018.
When other Lansdowne Road increases are also factored in, there will be a 15% increase in the starting pay of new entrant teachers between 31 August 2016 and 1 January 2018 (from €31,009 to €35,602). For an individual TUI/INTO member who started teaching in September 2015, they will see a 22% increase in their pay (including increment) between 31 August 2016 and 1 January 2018 (from €31,009 to €37,723).
The typical starting pay for a primary teacher in 2010 was €36,890, comprising basic salary of €31,972 and an honours degree allowance of €4,918. Such teachers may also have been entitled to incremental credit for other service. The teacher could also have received an additional payment of €1,769 per annum if they had opted into the Supervision and Substitution scheme.
The typical starting pay for a post-primary teacher in 2010 teacher was €39,195, comprising basic salary of €33,041 and an honours degree allowance of €4,918 and an allowance for the Higher Diploma in Education of €1,236. Such teachers may also have been entitled to incremental credit for other service. The teacher could also have received an additional payment of €1,769 per annum if they had opted into the Supervision and Substitution scheme.
The typical starting pay for a primary and post-primary teacher from January 2018 onwards will be €35,602.
There are some exceptional circumstances where a teacher may enter the teaching profession in January 2018 but be entitled to access the salary scale that existed prior to 2011. For example, a teacher may have previously worked as a teacher in the public service of another EU state and may have a period of service prior to 1 January 2011 which would allow them to be placed on the pre 2011 scale. In circumstances such as these, a primary teacher starting in January 2018 would be on a starting salary of €39,482 comprising basic salary of €34,564 and an honours degree allowance of €4,918 and including increases under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
A post-primary teacher starting in January 2018, under the same circumstances, would have a starting pay of €41,787 comprising basic salary of €35,633 and an honours degree allowance of €4,918 and an allowance for the Higher Diploma in Education of €1,236. Such teachers may also have been entitled to incremental credit for other service.
The Government has committed to establishing a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the public service, including entry levels of pay. The Government also supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
