Written answers

Tuesday, 4 October 2016

Department of Education and Skills

Teachers' Remuneration

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

161. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure that all newly qualified teachers since 2011 get equal pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28124/16]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The recent agreement reached with TUI and INTO on the issue of new entrant pay will result in increases of up to €2,000 per year for new teachers at the start of their careers. The estimated value of these increases over a teacher’s career is €135,000. This new arrangement will apply to members of the teachers’ unions which have signed up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement i.e. TUI and INTO.

This agreement will result in increases of up to €2,000 per year for new teachers at the start of their careers. It is estimated that over a teacher’s career the value of these increases will be €135,000.  This improvement for new teachers follows on from the recent increase of €796 per year for every teacher covered by the Lansdowne Road Agreement in respect of substitution and supervision payments.  A further €796 in respect of substitution and supervision is to be added to the pay scales for teachers covered by the Lansdowne Road Agreement in September 2017.

The announcement of the improved pay scale is great news for new teachers and shows what is possible through dialogue and negotiation within the Lansdowne Road Agreement.  The Government is wholly committed to the implementation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement as the most appropriate way for progress to be made on pay restoration and reform of our public services into the future.  This agreement shows how the LRA can resolve issues of concern for our public servants.

The implementation of the revised salary arrangement will be implemented in two phases on 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018. The effect of this will be to assimilate all post-1 January 2011 and post-1 February 2012 new entrants to teaching onto a single new salary scale which will incorporate the honours primary degree allowance. This new arrangement will apply to members of the teachers’ unions which have signed up to the Lansdowne Road Agreement (INTO and TUI).

In addition to the agreed improvement in pay for new teachers, the teachers covered by the Lansdowne Road Agreement already benefit from the following terms:

- Avoiding a 2 year increment freeze;

- Addition of the S&S allowance of €1,592 into the teacher pay scale;

- The Ward Report measures and a revised sequence for filling posts which enable fixed-term and part-time teachers to gain permanent, full-time jobs more easily and quickly than before;

- Continued alleviation of the FEMPI Act pay reductions;

- An increase in the quantum of the Croke Park hours that can be worked on other than a whole-school basis;

- A review of the usage of the Croke Park hours; and

- Protection against compulsory redundancy.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.