Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to show separately, the amount of money that would be saved if all increments across the public service were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €60,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €75,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €90,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; if all increments in respect of persons earning a basic salary of over €100,000 per annum were suspended in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57612/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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My Department has access to detailed data on increments only in the Civil Service sector, for which I have direct responsibility.

On increments generally, based on updated information submitted to my Department on the total cost of increments in a full year in the various sectors, the full year cost of increments in the public service (excluding the Local Authority sector) is now estimated at some €150 million per annum and less than half that sum in 2013. Significantly reduced recruitment, the ongoing substantial fall in numbers of public servants and higher numbers reaching the maxima of scales has reduced the cost of increments. This cost will continue to fall over the coming years.

Data available in relation to increments payable in the Civil Service illustrates the significant reduction in the estimated cost of increments from €23m in 2009 to €16.5m in 2013. It also shows the reduction in the number of employees paid increments on an annual basis from 43% in 2009 to 36% in 2013 of a reducing staff cohort. This reduction arises due to recruitment restrictions and as more people reach the maxima of the scales. This reduction in cost is accentuated as new recruits to the public service are subject also to a 10% reduction in their pay scales with effect from 1 January 2011.

Of the estimated total annual cost for payment of increments in the Civil Service in 2013, the estimated amount that would not be paid were increments suspended in respect of civil servants due an increment in certain salary bands is as follows: