Departmental Staff Remuneration

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

Ceisteanna (306)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

306. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has made any contacts requesting staff whose annual salary is in excess of €200,000 in his Department or in any body under the remit of his department, to waive 15% of their salary or such amount in excess of €200,000 whichever is the lesser; if he has, the date on which he first made this contact; the number of staff whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date; the number of staff who acquiesced to the request for the waiver; the number of staff who refused the request for the waiver and the number of staff who have not responded to the request for the waiver [52715/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

On the 22nd July 2011 I wrote to all relevant Bodies requesting them to ask all relevant individuals who earn in excess of €200,000 to make a voluntary waiver of salary. There were eight relevant individuals whose annual salaries were in excess of €200,000 at that date. While two individuals, one of whom is a university Head, agreed to make personal arrangements with their employer regarding a deduction of the amount of salary over €200,000, there have been no voluntary waivers made for the benefit of the State.

I cannot enforce a voluntary waiver nor can I insist that a waiver, if made, follows any particular format. For example, if an employee chooses to waive a portion of his/her salary in favour of a charity or their employer they are free to do so.