Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

A reduction in the capitation and ancillary grants has taken place on the basis of the legal advice available to the Department. Its view was that these people were exempt from the legislation. However, legal advice indicated that they were no longer exempt. Therefore, a circular on adjustments of salary had to be brought forward for January 2011 to all relevant staff, similar to the changes affecting all other public servants in the country. In the interim I fought for an exemption while the discussions took place. That exemption now expires at the end of December and I am not in a position to get a further one. The legal advice indicates that under the Act this is the determination that will be made.

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