Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 February 2022
43. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way that a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary can obtain consent from his Department to apply for the one person one salary scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5270/22]
View answerThe objective of the policy on One Person One Salary (OPOS) is to restrict payment of extra remuneration, from additional public service sources, to public sector employees.
While the initial policy focused on board fees, it has been expanded over time to cover any type of potential second income from a public service source that might accrue to a public sector employee.
Additional payment may be made for undertaking other work in the public sector if certain conditions apply. Sanction for such payments are considered where Departments put a supporting business case forward and where it is established, that each of the following conditions is met:
that the duties involved are neither a part nor an extension of the officer’s normal duties, and
that a rigid insistence on the principle of one person-one salary would deny scarce skills to the State, and
that payment is permitted for one additional appointment only, and
that the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for additional payments is required in each case, and
that in no case should payment exceed the normal fee for the activity concerned, and
that the duration of such payment should be limited to one term or 5 years whichever is greater.
Where a Department is satisfied that each of the conditions is met, application for sanction should be made to my Department. Such applications are considered and a decision is given by reference to the conditions quoted above.
It is normal practice that such cases are made by a Department based on a business need and not by an individual.
