Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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94. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of pay equalisation for new entrants in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51360/17]

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

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 the pre 2011 scale. 

In addition, the Lansdowne Road Agreement provided the flexibility to address particular sectoral issues such as the restoration of supervision and substitution payments and new entrant payments in the Education Sector and the restoration of r??ent allowances to new entrant firefighters and members of An Garda Síochána.

As such there are no new entrant scales anymore, there are new scales that start at a lower point i.e. the two initial points on the merged scales represent in general, the only difference in pay points for those recruited to new entry grades from 2011.

Indicative estimates of the total cost of moving all staff hired on new entrant scales up two increment points would be over €209m excluding any cost in respect of retrospective payment.

The Deputy will also be aware that the benefits of the new Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, now ratified by the Public Services Committee of the ICTU, are progressively weighted in favour of new entrants.

The PSSA also recognises the issues of concern in relation to the salaries of new entrants and commits all parties to an examination of these matters within 12 months of the commencement of the Agreement. The first, exploratory meeting, with the full complement of Trade Unions and staff associations, took place on the 12th  of October. This meeting, based on the contributions of all parties, agreed an outline process of oversight and data gathering. This process will be overseen by the Oversight Body for the PSSA. Further engagement will be undertaken over the coming months with those parties that have subscribed to the Agreement.