Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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325. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when teachers can expect an increase in pay following the strike by a union (details supplied); when his Department will unfreeze the increments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37169/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the decision taken last June by the ASTI to suspend all industrial action relating to the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) and Junior Cycle reform.

As a result of the suspension, a number of direct financial benefits now apply to teachers who were not previously covered by the LRA, including ASTI members.

The pay measures which took effect from 10 June (the date of the suspension of industrial action) include:

- Pay improvements for post-February 2012 entrant teachers through the payment of the first phase of new salary scales (Second phase due January 2018);

- Lifting of the freeze on the payment of increments;

- Pay increase through the addition of the first S&S moiety (€796) to the teacher pay scale (Second moiety due September 2017);

- Pay increase of €1,000 through the bringing forward of the 1 September pay increase;

- Restoration of the alleviation of the FEMPI Act pay reductions for higher earners;

- Payment of the first phase of the reversal of the FEMPI Act pay reductions for higher earners (Second phase due January 2018).

Further to the above, all teachers are now covered by the terms of the Ward Circular and a revised sequence for filling posts/hours in schools which enable fixed-term and part-time teachers to gain permanent, full-time jobs more quickly and easier than before.

Other benefits made available to teachers not previously covered by the LRA include:

- Access to promotion posts announced in Budget 2017 based on arrangements to be set out in a new Department Circular;

- S&S opt-out option for teachers with a minimum of 15 years’ service;

- S&S opt-in option for teachers who had previously opted out;

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

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

- Access to redeployment;

- Provision of professional time associated with the implementation of the Junior Cycle.

All of the pay restoration measures due from 10 June to teachers who were not previously covered by the LRA (including ASTI members) have been implemented on my Department’s Payroll. The second S&S moiety which is due to be paid to teachers with effect from 1 September 2017 will be paid in September 2017.

The continuing restoration of the financial and other benefits of the LRA are contingent on the continuing application of the suspension of all industrial action. In the event that the suspension of industrial action by members of the ASTI is not sustained, the restoration measures above would stand to be reversed.