Finian McGrath
Ceist:89. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider not cutting the allowance for low paid teachers such as a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [48855/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 7 November 2012
Ceisteanna (89)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government policy on the payment of qualifications allowances to new entrant teachers arises because of the need to constrain public service pay costs in face of the extremely difficult national financial position.
It should be noted however that the Government has decided that new entrant teachers who will no longer be in receipt of qualifications allowances will commence on a salary of
€30,702, which is equivalent to the 4th point of the existing teachers salary scale from 1 January 2011. In gross salary terms this amounts to an incremental salary gain of €2,888 on the base incremental point of the scale for new entrant teachers. New entrant teachers will also have the option of being paid a pensionable allowance of €1,592 for supervision and substitution, thereby bringing their starting salary to €32,294.
If the individual referred to is a teacher who is already in receipt of an honours degree allowance, the person concerned continues to retain it. Qualifications allowances are being abolished for new beneficiaries only.