Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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19. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on ending different pay scales and terms and conditions for new entrants to the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30844/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The 10% reductions in starting pay for certain new entrants were introduced by the then Government in January 2011 as part of the National Recovery Plan in order to reduce the Public Service Pay Bill. 

The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants who entered public service employment since 2011, and those who entered before that date, was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). From 1 November 2013 pre and post-2011 pay scales were merged into a single consolidated scale applicable to each grade. Generally, the third point of 1 November 2013 payscale is equivalent to the first point of scale of the pre 2011 scale. 

The Lansdowne Road Agreement provides the mechanism through which outstanding issues of concern to new recruits to the public service can be addressed in a negotiated way. This is reflected in the  recent agreement between my Department, D/Education and Skills, the INTO and the TUI in respect of new entrant teacher pay restoration . Contingent on the introduction of certain reform measures, a new incremental salary scale will be developed which is designed to address the current difference in pay for teachers recruited since 1 February 2012.  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).

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.