Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I have used this to negotiate substantial improvements in pay for new teachers. The agreement reached in September last year will see pay rises of between 15% and 22% between €4,600 and €6,700 for new entrant teachers.  The agreements also provide for earlier permanency for younger teachers, new promotion opportunities and new flexibilities in working hours.

The agreements have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver full equality at later points in the scale. This is substantial progress and strikes an equitable balance with other claims for funding on my Department, particularly needs such as enhanced services for children with special educational needs, disadvantaged schools, growing schools and so on.

In education there is a well-established increment system, and teachers are not paid equally. For example, the pay scale for teachers appointed prior to 2011 ranges from €33,800 to €61,950 depending on the date on which the individual began teaching. Part of the negotiation to date has secured a convergence of the scales of recruits at different periods.

I accept that the teacher unions have outstanding pay demands and that the new entrant deal does not travel the full distance they set out to achieve. However, any further negotiation on new entrant pay cannot focus on just one sector. The recently concluded Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 includes a provision regarding new entrants which states that an examination of the remaining salary scale issues in respect of post-January 2011 recruits at entry grades covered by parties to the agreement will be undertaken within 12 months of the commencement of the agreement. An initial meeting on new entrant pay under this process took place on 12 October 2017.

The Government also 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.

The new Public Service Stability Agreement would also bring undoubted benefits to young teachers. In January 2018 a newly qualified teacher straight out of college will earn €35,958. In October 2020 a newly qualified teacher straight out of college will earn €37,692. This is a very competitive graduate salary.

See this speech in context