Jim O'Callaghan
Question:
1043. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the way in which new entrants pay for members of An Garda Síochána under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 is being implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33259/20]
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Jim O'Callaghan
Question:
1044. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of new entrants to An Garda Síochána recruited post-2013 who have received an increment increase on foot of the new entrants pay agreement under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020; the estimated cost of the agreement to date in respect of An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33260/20]
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1043 and 1044 together.
I have requested a report from the Garda authorities on the information sought by the Deputy and I will contact him directly when the report is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Questions 1043 and 1044 which were for answer on 3 November 2020, and your subsequent correspondence to me inquiring about the same, where you asked the way in which new entrants pay for members of An Garda Síochána under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 is being implemented and the number of new entrants to An Garda Síochána recruited post-2013 that have received an increment increase on foot of the new entrants pay agreement under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020; the estimated cost of the agreement to date in respect of An Garda Síochána. You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when more up to date information was available.
The 'New Entrants' Agreement is a component of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 and seeks to address the salary scale issues that arose in respect of post January 2011 recruits (new entrants, recruited after 1 January 2011 to a direct entry grade subject to rate reductions under Circular 18/2010 as subsequently amended by Circular 2/2014.). The Agreement on new entrant salary scales for the civil service was reached in September 2018.
The main components of the Agreement are:
- where two additional scale points were applied to pay scales under the Haddington Road Agreement, it was agreed that there will be two separate interventions in the pay scales as they apply to new entrant public servants recruited since January 2011.
- the two separate interventions will take place at point 4 and point 8 of the pay scales. The practical effect of this is that for new entrants the relevant points on the scale will be bypassed, thereby reducing the time spent on the scale for progression to the maximum point.
- these measures will apply from 1 March 2019 and will be applied to each new entrant as they reach the relevant scale points (point 4 and point 8) on their increment date.
The measures have been implemented under two circulars, issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform:
Circular 7/2019: Applied adjustments to eligible staff on their next normal increment date between 1 March 2019 to 29 February 2020. Employees on incremental points between 3 and 5 of their salary scale, received two increments (1 normal, and 1 additional increment) on their increment date. New entrants on incremental point 6 or above of a salary scale, received three increments (1 normal, and 2 additional increments) on their increment date.
Circular 4/2020: Supersedes circular 7/2019 and applies, as appropriate, to eligible new entrants when they are due to move to points 4 and 8, on their next normal increment date, on or after 1 March 2020.
On the 3 November 2020 the number of new entrant Garda members on point 5 or above was 1,460 as confirmed by Payroll Shared Services. The uplift from point 4 to 5 in 2019 was worth €3,898 of which €2,320 was linked to this agreement (as opposed to the single incremental progression laid out of €1,578). Therefore, the cost of this increment jump for 1,460 members is €3,387,200 based on pay rates applicable when agreement was introduced.
Increments for Garda Members are reviewed when they are due to reach Point 4 of the new entrant Garda scale to assess if they are entitled to an additional increment under this agreement.
An Garda Síochána has also applied the above circulars to eligible Garda staff as they have reached their incremental date in line with the terms of each circular.
In this regard, as of 3 November 2020 some 323 Garda staff have benefited from adjustments to their incremental progression under the agreement. An Garda Síochána will continue to implement the terms of circular 4/2020 for eligible staff as they reach the relevant points of their incremental salary scales going forward.
I trust this information is of assistance.
