Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 July 2019
263. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of implementing a living wage €12.30 for all employees directly employed and or in agencies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30769/19]
View answerMy Department issues Circulars detailing pre-determined salary scales which are negotiated at central level.
I am advised that all staff paid on payrolls operated by my Department are paid in excess of €12.30 per hour.
There are also a significant cohort of staff paid directly by Agencies and/or Bodies coming under the aegis of my Department. Information in relation to the individual hourly wages of all of these staff is not readily available and accordingly, it is not possible to estimate what cost, if any, would arise from implementing a living wage of €12.30 for all employees either directly employed and/or employed in Agencies and/or Bodies coming under my remit.
I would also like to take this opportunity to outline the current position in respect of two specific categories of staff in the Education and Training sector
1. The position in relation to Secretaries and Caretakers employed and paid directly through grant funding by the managerial authorities of schools is that, on foot of a Chairman’s Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement, officials from the Department of Education and Skills engaged with the Unions representing school secretaries and caretakers, including through an independent arbitration process in 2015. The Arbitrator recommended a cumulative pay increase of 10% between 2016 and 2019 for staff and that a minimum hourly pay rate of €13 be phased in over that period. This arbitration agreement was implemented by my Department and covers the period up to 31 December 2019.
2. The hourly rate of pay for Bus Escorts will vary from time to time in line with revised salary rates arising from the various Public Service Stability Agreements[1]. School management authorities are notified of any revised salary rates as they occur by way of circular issued by my Department. The current hourly rate of pay is €12.85.”
