David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

147. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the additional pay and allowance measures agreed with public sector unions in 2015 and 2016, broken down by profession and by union agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39208/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:

An Garda Síochána

The recent ad hoc Labour Court recommendation for the members of the GRA and AGSI, which has been accepted by Government, provides for:

- the restoration of the rent allowance to post January 2012 Garda recruits with effect from the date of acceptance of the Labour Court Recommendation;

- an increase in the value of the rent allowance by €500 with effect from 1 January 2017;

- the integration of the rent allowance into salary with consequential increases in unsocial hours and overtime payments;

- paid 15 minute pre-tour daily briefing/tasking sessions and the introduction of a €15 premium payment per annual leave day with effect from the commencement of the next leave year.

Teachers

An agreement concluded with the INTO and TUI in September 2016 provides for:

- All post 1 January 2011 and post 1 February 2012 new entrants to teaching will be assimilated onto a single new salary scale which will incorporate the honours primary degree allowance.

- Productivity measures related to school leadership were agreed which will apply to all teachers, within the context of the potential restoration of posts of responsibility.

- It was agreed with the TUI in May 2016 that the maximum period of time available for planning and development work on other than a whole-school basis will be increased from 5 to 8 hours from the beginning of the 2016/17 school year and a further 2 hours from the beginning of the 2017/18 school year.

Lecturers in Institutes of Technology

The following was agreed with the TUI:

- As an interim arrangement, from January 2017, one of the two additional flex hours required of each lecturer to wider duties other than teaching will be redesignated, in consultation with the lecturers and in accordance with Institute priorities and needs.  The parties confirmed to prioritise addressing the numbers of Lecturers in fixed-term and part-time employment.

Nurses

The following pay and allowance measures were agreed for Nurses:

- An increase in the rate of pay for Trainee Nurses and the award of incremental credit for the 36-week placement. (Nursing unions)

- Restoration of the Community allowance to Psychiatric Nurses working in the Community subject to productivity measures (Psychiatric Nurses Association/SIPTU).

- A Nursing/Medical Interface payment to Nurses arising from the transfer of specific tasks from Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors to Nurses (Nursing unions).

- A payment to Group Directors of Nursing arising from an ad hoc arbitration finding under the LRA.