Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

518. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the pay scales for court ushers. [46226/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that Court Ushers (or tipstaffs) act as assistants to judges of the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court while Court Criers carry out similar functions for judges of the Circuit Court.  The Courts Service has also informed me that it was decided in 2011 that all newly appointed judges to those courts would be provided with a Judicial Assistant instead of a Court Crier or a Court Usher. 

The pay scales for Court Ushers, Court Criers and Judicial Assistants are set out below. It should be noted that all new staff are on the Personal Pension Contribution (PPC) scales and that there are very few Court Ushers or Court Criers remaining on the non-PPC scales.

Pay Scales

COURT USHER - NON-PPC - WEEKLY

€429.36, €484.44, €498.89, €528.57

€542.90, €576.84, €595.02 (LSI1), €616.44 (LSI2)

COURT USHER - PPC - WEEKLY

€450.78, €501.76, €524.12, €555.38

€570.47, €605.42, €618.58 (LSI1) €640.93 (LSI2)

COURT CRIER - NON-PPC - WEEKLY

€458.52, €524.93, €562.71, €581.12 (LSI1), €601.46 (LSI2)

COURT CRIER - PPC - WEEKLY

€481.19, €550.85, €590.75, €609.93 (LSI1), €625.29 (LSI2)

The top two points on each of the pay scales above are Long-Service Increment (LSI) points payable after 3 years and 6 years, respectively, on the ordinary maximum point.

JUDICIAL ASSISTANT - PPC - ANNUAL

€28,651.00, €31,723.00.