Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the payment of increments in 2018 to public servants who are members of unions (details supplied) and who voted against the new public service pay deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55230/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Under the provisions of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, if the Irish Congress of Trade Unions notifies the Workplace Relations Commission in writing on behalf of a recognised trade union that the union assents to be bound by the Public Service Stability Agreement, then that notification shall be treated as a notification by the union that it assents to be so bound.  I understand that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has notified the Workplace Relations Commission that its affiliate unions have assented to be bound by the Public Service Stability Agreement. Accordingly, members of such unions including ASTI, TUI and INTO are covered by the Agreement.

As such, all teachers who are due to receive an increment in 2018 will receive it with effect from the normal due date of the increment. The Act provides that public servants who are not covered by the Public Service Stability Agreement will have the payment of increments suspended from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2020, among other measures.

From 1st January 2018, a newly qualified teacher straight out of college will commence on a starting salary of €35,958.