Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2023
154. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm that his Department approved an increase in the salary of the Chief Operations Officer and of the Deputy President and Registrar this year, and that this increase was backdated to their appointments in 2019. [41773/23]
View answer155. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm the salary level approved for the position of Deputy President and Registrar by his Department this year. [41774/23]
View answer156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he can confirm the salary level approved for the position of Chief Operations Officer by his Department this year. [41775/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 155 and 156 together.
My department has not issued any specific sanction to change or increase the salary or grade of the Chief Operations Officer or Deputy President & Registrar in 2023. Both posts are still remunerated in line with the grade of Deputy President/Registrar/Bursar/University Secretary of a Level II University as sanctioned.
It is however the case that the two posts in question do attract uplifts in line with national agreements. As of the 1st October 2022, the salary appropriate to these posts was €170,549, which included the relevant FEMPI pay restorations and pay awards due under the Building Momentum Agreement at that time. As the Deputy will be aware, there has been a further pay increase under the Building Momentum agreement (1 March 2023) with a second increase due shortly (1 October 2023). The application of these pay awards will bring the sanctioned salary to €176,569 for the two posts.
Given that both post holders were on their pre appointment rate of pay while awaiting sanction for the posts, it would have been incumbent on TU Dublin to apply any FEMPI restorations due to the post holders.
