Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of public servants employed in his Department who are on lower pay scales than their colleagues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21821/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are two cohorts of recently recruited teachers who are on reduced pay scales as compared to those who entered teaching prior to 2011. Firstly, as part of the measures which were introduced to restore order to the public finances, salary scales for all recruitment grades in the public service (including teachers) were reduced by 10% for new entrants. This applies to new entrant teachers appointed between 1 January 2011 and 31 January 2012. Secondly, a revised salary scale applies to new entrant teachers appointed from 1 February 2012 onwards whose qualifications allowances were removed following the public service-wide review of allowances.

According to Department payroll records, the number of new entrant whole time teacher equivalents currently employed as permanent, temporary, regular part-time or on contracts of indefinite duration who were appointed between 1 January 2011 and 31 January 2012 is 681 (excluding teachers employed in Education and Training Boards). It is estimated that ETBs employ a further 90 such teachers. Information in respect of new entrant teachers appointed on or after 1 February 2012 is not currently available but will be furnished to the Deputy in due course.

The Haddington Road Agreement provides that revised salary scales shall be prepared for same grade entrants to the public service (including for example teachers and SNAs) to incorporate the revision of salary scales introduced in 2011, in order to address the imbalance between those who entered the Public Service since 2011 and those who entered before that date. Implementation of these revised salary scales is in progress.