Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2012
74 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider the implementation of the wage decrease for newly qualified teachers in view of the fact that this strategy does not offer any incentive for a person to seek a teachers qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20989/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraA 10% reduction in salary applies to new entrants to the public service, including teachers, who commenced employment for the first time on or after 1 January 2011. This is in accordance with the Budget 2011 decision taken by the previous administration. Teachers appointed for the first time on or after 1 January 2011 also commence employment at the first point of the salary scale. Incremental credit for the length of time in college training as a teacher is no longer reckonable. The salary scales applicable to teachers who commenced employment for the first time on or after 1 January 2011 in posts funded by my Department are outlined in Circular 0040/2011.
The Government announced as part of Budget 2012 that, pending completion of the public service-wide review of allowances, changes to teacher qualification allowances were being made with immediate effect. These changes affect both existing teachers and new appointees in the future. Under Budget 2012 teachers appointed before 5 December 2011 are not paid an allowance where they acquire further qualifications after that date. Allowances for teachers first appointed between 5 December 2011 and 31 January 2012 are payable up to a maximum of €4,226 which was the rate applicable to Honours Primary Degree allowance.
Pending the outcome of the review of allowances and premium payments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, allowances are not payable to new beneficiaries from 1 February 2012. The only exceptions to this prohibition are principal and deputy principal allowances and, for a limited period of time, the assistant principal allowance. These decisions were taken due to the upward pressure on the cost of teacher allowances. These provisions are outlined in Circular 70/2011 and Circular 3/2012. These measures are concerned with the sustainability of the public service pay bill and in particular the need to find payroll savings in the education vote. Without immediate action, this upward pressure would have cancelled out the savings made elsewhere in the education system and would bring about even harsher adjustments to schools and services. I am not in a position to comment further until the outcome of the review is known.
