Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will examine the facts. Under the agreement I negotiated, along with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, with representatives from the INTO and TUI, significant progress was made in terms of in addressing an issue that mattered to the members of those unions. Let us examine the figures involved, none of which the Deputy acknowledged. The Deputy did not acknowledge that the two unions I mentioned raised the issue with the Government and, as a result of their efforts and negotiations with it, achieved progress for their members. Depending on which point of the scale a teacher is on, the highest increase is €7,700 and the increase at the maximum level is €4,300. Over a teacher's career, these gains will be worth €135,000. This has been achieved through the Lansdowne Road agreement and makes progress towards dealing with the issues the unions identified. In the interests of fairness, the Deputy should acknowledge the progress that is being made.

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