Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
253. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a video by parents and guardians raising issues and problems concerning the move of a school (details supplied) out of the community to Citywest; the alternative measures that can be taken in order to keep the school within the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13665/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was established in 2018 and is currently in interim accommodation on the Firhouse Education Campus.
Due to additional accommodation requirements in the Gaelscoil in which they are currently located my Department has been informed that it is not possible for the secondary school to continue to operate in that building.
My Department has informed the secondary school that interim accommodation for the school will be provided on the Citywest Education Campus for the 2020/2021 academic year.
My Department is in on-going communication with the Patron Bodies concerned regarding all options.
258. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to move the two tier pay scales for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13670/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. The starting salary for a new entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702. As a result of the programme of pay restoration, the starting salary of a teacher is now €36,953 and from 1 October 2020 onwards will be €37,692.
Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 provides that “the Minister [for Public Expenditure and Reform] shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.”
The report laid before the Oireachtas on foot of this provision by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform assesses the cost of a further change which would provide a two scale point adjustment to new entrants recruited since 2011. The total cost of such an adjustment across the public sector is of the order of €200 million, of which Education accounts for €83 million. The report also acknowledges that, during the financial crisis, there were policy changes which affected remuneration in different occupations across the public sector (including education).
The matter of new entrant pay is a cross sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector alone. The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the FEMPI legislation, having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
On 24 September 2018, an agreement was reached between the Government and the public services committee of ICTU in respect of new entrant pay.
This agreement is benefitting 16,000 teachers and nearly 5,000 SNAs within the education sector. The deal provides for a series of incremental jumps for new entrants.
Minister McHugh is fully aware that the teacher unions have outstanding issues of concern following the September 2018 agreement. These outstanding matters will be given full consideration. This will happen either in the context of any pay review mechanism agreed by the parties to the Public Service Stability Agreement, or in the context of the next round of pay talks. The positions of each of the parties on these matters must be given due regard in endeavouring to reach a mutually agreed resolution.
The current series of restorative measures for new entrants have been achieved through continued engagement and collective bargaining between the Government and the public service unions and shows the benefits that such engagement can bring.
