Written answers

Wednesday, 10 December 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Departmental Agencies

10:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 99: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she last gave her consent under section 7(2)(a) of the Labour Services Act, 1987 to the remuneration and allowances for expenses paid to members of the staff of FÁS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44897/08]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In the period since the establishment of FÁS under the Labour Services Act, 1987 the Minister sanctioned, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, the pay and staffing arrangements for FAS and various other grade specific increases from time to time.

Increases in remuneration for the staff of FÁS are normally set in the context of Social Partnership agreements. Under the terms of the current agreement, Towards 2016, payment of each of the public services pay increases is dependent on verification of satisfactory achievement in relation to co-operation with flexibility and modernisation. The verification process applies to each sector, organisation and grade within the public service. FÁS submitted themselves to this verification process and following an examination of its progress the Department approved the payments. The most recent approval in this context was conveyed to FÁS on 28 November 2008 in relation to the increase of 2.5% under Section 27.17 of Towards 2016 with effect from 1 September 2008.

The Department of Finance determines overall travel policy in the civil service and the wider public service. My Department has recently asked FÁS to confirm that the Department of Finance circulars are currently being adhered to by FÁS. My Department has also written to the Chairman of the FÁS Board seeking clarification as to whether Department of Finance circulars regarding travel and subsistence have been adhered to in respect of foreign travel for the period since 2001.

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