Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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205. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence regarding supporting teachers in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39156/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation was introduced in five separate Acts from 2009 in response to the crisis in the public finances. In my most recent annual review of the legislation, I indicated in my report that I would bring forward the necessary legislative amendments to the Financial Emergency Measures Acts to enable the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement which would extend the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement to September 2018to be implemented from 1 January 2016. As the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement have now been accepted by the Public Services Committee of ICTU and by Government, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Bill 2015, which is currently before the Oireachtas, contains these provisions. The Agreement is significantly weighted in favour of the lower paid and applies to all public servants including teachers. It makes provision for increases in gross pay in 2016 for those on pay up to €31,000 and in 2017 for lower and middle income public servants, namely those on pay up to €65,000. For any public servant whose annualised salary is below €24,001 there will be an increase in gross pay of 2.5% from 1 January 2016. For those on annualised salaries between €24,001 and €31,000 there will be an increase in gross pay of 1% from 1 January 2016. For all those on annualised salaries up to €65,000 there will be an increase in gross pay of €1,000 from 1 September 2017. Additionally, all public servants will benefit from the Pension Related Deduction (PRD) measures contained in the Lansdowne Road Agreement which will benefit all affected public servants by up to €733 in 2016 and €1,000 in 2017.

When in 2013 Unions and Associations representing public servants, including teachers, signed up to the Haddington Road Agreement they agreed to the introduction of significant productivity measures and also additional pay cuts for public servants earning over €65,000. There was a commitment given in that Agreement, for the restoration of the 2013 pay cuts in two equal phases in April 2017 and January 2018 (for those on annualised remuneration in excess of €110,000 restoration will be in three equal phases). The FEMPI Bill 2015 also includes the necessary legislative provisions to give effect to these commitments. Additionally, the Bill enables effect to be given to the commitment under the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement for the restoration of certain specific reductions to terms and conditions affected by the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement, which in particular will benefit teachers who are encompassed by the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

Accordingly, I do not consider that the provisions of the FEMPI Bill  are disadvantageous to teachers over any other group of public servants.