Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken to stop top-ups paid to academics in universities and institutes of technology; if he is looking for top-ups to be refunded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2034/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Professional added years are awarded to certain employees in universities and institutes of technology strictly in accordance with the rules of the relevant pension scheme.

I am not aware of any top-up payments being paid to academics in universities and institutes of technology and it is the position of my Department that no such top-up payments should be awarded. In this regard it should be noted that the issue of compliance with public sector pay policy has been raised by the Committee of Public Accounts arising from the Committee's examination of remuneration practices in Section 38 Agencies in the Health Sector.

The Committee wrote to all Accounting Officers, including the Secretary General of my Department who is the Accounting Officer for the Education sector, to seek assurances that public sector employers are in compliance with public pay policy and the Education sector Accounting Officer will respond to this letter in due course.