John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 123: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of courses in higher education undertaken by senior civil and public servants in each of the past five years; if there is a claw back on the costs should the employee leave the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38982/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to reply to this question on behalf of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Finance as a shared service Training Unit now provides training services to both Departments.

I have taken the phrase "senior civil servants" to represent the grade of Assistant Principal Officer and upwards for the purpose of this question. Many courses are undertaken by officers, often in their own time, and the information available to both Departments is based on the amount of monies refunded to staff members in respect of eligible courses. Fees are only refunded for courses that have relevance to the work of either Department.

The amounts refunded by the two Departments in respect of courses for each of the past five years are set out below. In respect of the years 2007 to 2010 inclusive a full refund (100%) was granted in respect of courses undertaken. Due to a need to match available funding to demand each year not all applicants have received a full refund for 2011 but all approved applicants have received at least a 70% refund to date. This position will be reviewed at the end of the year.

Year Amount

2007 39,182

2008 61,330

2009 39,521

2010 22,455

2011 14,743

An undertaking is signed by all applicants seeking a refund of fees. This undertaking stipulates that if the recipient of a refund leaves the service without completing 12 months service in respect of each yearly refund they must refund the fees paid.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 124: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the EU, IMF and ECB have been furnished with the details of all payments, allowances, pensions and retirement packages paid to the civil and public service over the past five years and the future costs of such arrangements; if the troika has expressed any views relative to these costs and the possible reforms needed. [38983/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of the general examination of budgetary policy in Ireland, the discussions with the EU-IMF and ECB have reviewed the main aspects of pay, pensions and numbers policy in the civil and public service.

The discussions have covered developments in these areas in the recent past and the prospects for the medium and longer term. The Troika reports set out their views on these and other issues. The Deputy will note that the assessments issued from time to time by these bodies of the Government's implementation of the Programme have been very positive.

The Deputy will be aware that a number of measures have been taken to reduce the pay and pensions bill. These measures have applied to serving staff and current pensioners in recent years. The Financial Emergency in the Public Interest Act 2009 introduced a pension-related deduction amounting to some 7% of pay on average, the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009 reduced pay by a similar proportion and legislated for a "grace period" within which pensions would not be affected by this cut. This period is due to expire on 29 February 2012.

In addition the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest Act 2010, which is part of the EU-IMF Programme, reduces public service pensions in payment and for those who retire before the end of the "grace period" by 4% on average. For those retiring after the "grace period", their pension calculation will be based on their actual pay at the time of retirement, i.e. the protection of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009 will not apply. There have also been taxation-related changes during this time, such as the reduction in the personal fund threshold and in the exemption for lump sum pension payments.

With regard to the costs of civil and public service pensions, I have recently brought forward the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme) and Remuneration Bill 2011 which provides for far-reaching reform of public service pensions. The Bill's principal purpose is to introduce a new single pension scheme for all new entrants to the public service. The Bill will ensure that public service workers continue to have access to good pensions and a reasonable standard of living in retirement, while the Exchequer benefits from greater control over the costs and the future burden on taxpayers is reduced. The new scheme is a commitment under the EU-IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland.