Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I share the Deputy's view that many of these workers who do their jobs very diligently are at the lowest end of the public sector wage scale. I agree with him that there are too many categories in the public sector. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, has referred to this on a number of occasions. It would be far preferable if the allowances were modified or changed to become part of the pay of those involved. As the Deputy suggested, they should not be tagged with allowance X or Y which have been paid for many years for various reasons. As part of the concept of reforming the public sector, it has to be made more efficient and meaningful. I agree that these tags should not be attached to workers who might be at the lower end of the pay scale. I hope the work put in train by the Minister and his Department will ensure the arrangements for those who work at the lower end of public sector salary scales are far more efficient, relevant and meaningful. Clearly, these matters need to be considered at the other end of the scale in the context of the budget that will be presented by the Minister for Finance in December.

See this speech in context