Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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86. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if retained firefighters, who even though they voted on the Lansdowne Road agreement were not included in the 2016 pay increases and most likely will also be left out of this pay increase, will receive increases due; if, with regard to reviewing FEMPI, he will revisit the dual employment clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3568/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Rates of pay for Retained Fire Service Personnel throughout all local authorities have a historic relationship for pay purposes with local authority craft workers’ rate of pay. The application of pay adjustments and related measures in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2015 and the Public Services Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (the Lansdowne Road Agreement) to the rate of pay of craft workers, apply automatically to the rates of pay of retained firefighters.

As the annualised rate of pay for craft workers is above the upper threshold for pay increases i.e. €32,000, as set out in the Lansdowne Road Agreement, there was no adjustment in their rate of pay in 2016.

From 01 April 2017, all staff on annualised salaries up to €65,000 will receive an increase in gross pay of €1,000, including craft workers, with an associated pro rata increase for retained firefighters.

With regard to the matter of dual employment this is a matter which has been the subject of significant discussion between Unions representing retained firefighters and the Local Government Management Agency, representing the employers, and as such it would not be appropriate to comment on this matter.