Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Government will pay increments to public sector employees to which they are contractually entitled to, as they fall due in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31855/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 in relation to pay and job security for serving public servants. These commitments are contingent on delivery of the necessary flexibilities and reforms to public service delivery that are required under the Agreement. The Budget process has outlined the Exchequer expenditure programme for 2012 and the necessary allocations have been made to Departments. Any further Budgetary measures, should they arise, are a matter for consideration by Government. The vast majority of persons who are on incremental pay scales are the lower paid and people who have been recruited to the public service more recently. I reiterate my view that there are fairer ways to control the cost of public pay, given that only a proportion of public servants, in particular lower paid and front line staff, would be affected by a suspension of increments.