Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
289. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans and timeframe to address remaining pay inequality issues in view of the fact that the report to the Houses of Oireachtas on new entrant salary scales has been published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14964/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report on costings of pay equality and the timeframe to achieve it as called for in an amendment to section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15127/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.
As part of the negotiations last year leading to the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 all parties acknowledged “issues of concern relating to the increased length of salary scale for post 2011” new entrants and committed to examining these issues within 12 months of the commencement of the agreement.
In general the issues of concern relate to the insertion of two lower salary points at the bottom of the existing salary scales, thereby lowering the point at which recruitment occurs in line with the economic cycle.
We started examining these issues with the Parties as soon as the Agreement was ratified back in October of last year. At that point we agreed with staff representatives that a data gathering and analysis exercise – to determine the individuals and grades effected – was a necessary first step in examining the issue.
Subsequent to that an amendment to Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2011 required me to submit a report on these matters within 3 months.
This I have done and the report was laid before the Oireachtas on Friday 16th March. It shows that there has been strong recruitment since 2011 to the estimated 237 recruitment grades across the public service, with over 60,500 new entrants hired or 19% of the public service. This includes over 16,000 teachers, nearly 5,000 Special Needs Assistants and almost 10,000 nurses. In reality this figure would be even higher as numbers who joined and left the entry grades over the last 7 years - whether through promotion, resignation or retirement - are excluded.
Importantly it also quantifies the cost of a two point adjustment as approximately €200m and the potential benefit to the individual as €3,301 on average. It should be understood that these costs are not included in the €887m ring-fenced for the implementation of the Public Service Stability Agreement and the benefits would be on top of the progressive pay increases negotiated under that Agreement of between 7.4% and 6.2% (or up to 10% for new entrants hired after 2012).
It is intended that the report will provide the evidence base for further engagement over the coming months between the parties to explore how the matter can be addressed.
The Report to the Oireachtas makes clear this Government’s commitment to working with the parties to address these issues, in accordance with the terms of the PSSA and taking account of the significant costs involved.
A copy of the Report can be found on my Department's website:
http://www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Report-to-Oireachtas-on-New-Entrant-Salary-Scale-Issues.pdf
