In my Department over the past three years, the following are the highest paid officials in the Department of Finance, in addition to officials in the newly established Department of public expenditure and reform.
Grade
|
Current Salary
|
|
€
|
Secretary General, Department of Finance (salary on retirement — January 2010)
|
228,466
|
Secretary General, Department of Finance
|
228,466
|
Secretary General, Public Service Management Division
|
215,590
|
Secretary General, Department of public expenditure and reform
|
200,000
|
In April of 2009, the then Minister for Finance asked the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector to undertake a fresh review of top level public service pay, to take account of the changed budgetary and economic circumstances, the changed private sector pay environment, and to compare pay against that of other countries of comparable scale, particularly in the eurozone. The report was published in December of 2009.
Previously, the review body completed its last general review of top public service pay in September of 2007, but relevant increases recommended by that review were never implemented.
As a result of its 2009 examination of top level public service pay, the review body report of 11 December 2009 recommended reductions in pay varying from 8% to 15% generally. It also recommended that there be no increases in the pay of the higher public service groups, including any adjustments that might otherwise arise under national agreements before the end of 2012. For Secretaries General, the review group recommended a reduction of 15% for level 1 Secretaries General, that is, Secretaries General of the Departments of the Taoiseach and Finance. The Secretaries General concerned volunteered to accept a reduction of 20%. This resulted in a reduction in the salary of the Secretary General in the Department of Finance from €285,341 to €228,466 — a decrease of €56,875. This salary of €228,466 was the same as the salary for the Taoiseach.
Upon receipt of the December 2009 review body report, the Government decided to introduce a new reduced pay rate for Secretaries General, level 2, appointed after 1 July 2010 to align with the then salary of a Minister. This level applies to the Secretary General, public service management division in the Department of the Finance. This resulted in a 15% reduction in salary from €253,635 to €215,590 — a decrease of €38,045.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
It should be noted that the Secretary General in the Department of Finance and the Secretary General, Public Service Management Division in the Department of the Finance both accepted a further voluntary reduction in their salaries, by way of a gift back to the Minister for Finance. This voluntary reduction reduces these salaries to €214,187 which is in line with other existing staff at the Secretary General, level 2, in other Departments. In order to provide an appropriate differential between levels, the Secretary General level 3 rate was also adjusted downwards for new appointees from the same date. This salary level, which applies to the grades of second secretary in the Department of Finance, was also reduced by 15% from €221,929 to €188,640 — a decrease of €33,289. The Department of public expenditure and reform is currently examining the salary levels of certain Civil Service grades.
Expenses and bonuses
In terms of expenses, it should be noted that the only expenses payable to the officials covered by the Deputy's question cover work-related travel and subsistence, or recoupment of certain other expenses on a vouched basis. The information in this regard for travel and subsistence of relevant officials in the Department of Finance and the newly established Department of public expenditure and reform, over a three year period, are as follows:
Grade
|
Expenses
|
|
€
|
Secretary General, Department of Finance (until retirement in January of 2010)
|
0
|
Secretary General, Department of Finance
|
3,056
|
Secretary General, Public Service Management Division
|
2,376
|
Second Secretary
|
1,546
|
Second Secretary
|
32,489
|
Second Secretary
|
1,422
|
Secretary General, Department of public expenditure and reform
|
N/A*Department of public expenditure and reform
|
Bonus payments are not applicable to these grades. (Schemes of performance-related awards applicable to the grades of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary were terminated in 2009).