Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of incremental pay increases awarded to existing staff in her Department, its office and agencies under the remit of her Department in 2008 and 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36834/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The year to year costs of incremental pay increases are normally offset by corresponding reductions in costs associated with retirements and other movements by staff on higher points on the incremental scales and their replacement by staff on lower points. Incremental increases are not therefore individually costed and there is no separate provision for incremental increases in my Department's estimates in either 2008 or 2009.

The estimated cost of incremental pay increases awarded to existing staff in the agencies under the remit of my Department in 2008 and 2009, is a day to day matter for the agencies concerned. My Department has no role or function in this process.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 70: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated annual cost to her Department of the 2.5% Towards 2016 pay increase from its implementation in September 2008 and the 3.5% pay increase planned for September 2009 in respect of wages paid to staff in her Department, its office and agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36848/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On the basis of my Department's 2008 Estimates provision, the cost of the 2.5% pay increase payable from 1 September 2008 is estimated at €464,000 gross in 2008, or €1.392 million gross on a full year basis for my Department and its offices.

While no specific additional provision has been included in my Department's 2009 Estimate for the payment of the 3.5% pay increase which would become payable from 1 September 2009 under the terms of the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement, the cost of the increase is estimated at €644,000 gross in 2009, or €1.933 million gross on a full year basis for my Department and its offices. My Department will be expected to meet the cost of the increase in 2009 from within its Estimates allocation for next year.

The application of pay increases to agencies under the aegis of my Department is subject to a formal approval process by my Department. The implementation of the pay increases, once approved, is matter for the agencies concerned. On the basis of the 2008 Estimates provision, the cost of the 2.5% pay increase payable from 1 September 2008 for the agencies under my Department's remit is estimated at €2.626 million gross in 2008, or €7.879 million gross on a full year basis.

On the basis of the 2009 Estimates provision, the cost of the increase which would become payable from 1 September 2009 in respect of the agencies is estimated at €3.653 million gross in 2009, or €10.959 million gross on a full year basis. Again, no specific additional provision has been included in my Department's 2009 Estimate for the payment of this increase and the agencies will be expected to meet the cost of the increase in 2009 from within their Estimates allocation.

The figures provided above include the cost of certain pensions paid by my Department and its agencies.