Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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179. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a commitment that was postponed in 2008 relating to a benchmarking award for teachers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38620/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In the second report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body (issued in December 2007), the Body evaluated the pay and jobs of 109 grades across the public service and recommended pay increases for 15 grades. Within the education sector, the Body reviewed 25 grades including Principal, Assistant Principal and Teacher in primary and post-primary schools. The Body recommended changes to the allowance payable to Principals of primary schools, which would have resulted in a 5.9% to 31.4% increase in the allowance payable depending on the size of school. The Body also recommended changes to the allowance payable to Principals of small post-primary schools, which would have resulted in a 17.3% to 31.4% increase in the allowance payable depending on the size of school. The Body did not recommend increases for the grades of Assistant Principal or Teacher.

Under the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement 2008-2009, it was agreed that the increases recommended in the second report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body would be paid as follows:

(a) 5% from 1 September 2008, or where the total increase is less than 5%, the full increase from that date;

(b) The issue of the payment of any balances will be discussed between the parties in the context of any successor to this Transitional Agreement which might be agreed between the Social Partners, or whatever other arrangements may be in place on the expiry of this Transitional Agreement.

The pay terms contained in the Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement 2008-2009 were not implemented due to the State's worsening financial circumstances. I have consulted with the Department of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the position is that having regard to this context there are no plans to implement the recommendations set out in the second report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body as they apply to any public servant.