Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
577. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is engaged in discussions to agree revised principles for a new higher education staffing agreement to update the current employment control framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20948/22]
View answerAs set out in my previous responses on this matter, officials from my Department engage on an ongoing basis with their counterparts in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science on multiple policy issues, which include the consideration of principles for a Higher Education Staffing Agreement. The purpose of a Higher Education Staffing Agreement, once finalised, will be to update the existing Employment Control Framework approach which has been in place since 2011 and which is still in place in a number of sectors in the public service.
It is important to highlight that the Employment Control Framework for the Higher Education sector is updated on an annual basis having regard to the funding decisions made as part of the annual Estimates process and which is then operationalised by the Higher Education Authority across all Higher Education Institutions. I would highlight that overall staffing in the sector, both core and non-core, has increased by approximately 4,500 or 18 percent since 2016.
While the operation and management of the existing Employment Control Framework approach is a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Higher Education Authority and the individual Higher Education Institutions, key issues from my Department’s perspective are to ensure that it appropriately reflects fiscal, expenditure and public service staffing and pay policies.
Regarding the overarching principles for a new approach, my Department is seeking to ensure that staffing decisions taken in the higher education sector are affordable and sustainable both from a higher education perspective but also from an Exchequer and wider public service staffing and pensions perspective. My Department is also mindful of the need to ensure that there is appropriate flexibility built in to any revised approach so that higher education institutions can operate efficiently in making their staffing decisions, having regard to their overall expenditure allocations and other appropriate controls.
