Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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119. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the issue of pay inequality for post-2010 entrants to the teaching profession will be resolved; if pay parity for primary school principals awarded in 2007 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28461/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA), provided that an examination of remaining salary scale issues in respect of post January 2011 recruits at entry grades would be undertaken within 12 months of the commencement of the Agreement.

Additionally this Government accepted an amendment at Section 11 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, that within 3 months of the passing of the Act, I would prepare and lay before the Oireachtas a report on the cost of and a plan in dealing with pay equalisation for new entrants to the public service.

This was a significant body of work and staff resources from within the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service (IGEES) were assigned to collect, collate and examine the data and provide detailed point in time costs associated with the measure.

In accordance with the legislation I submitted a report to the Oireachtas on the 16th of March. This report, and the substantial amount of data and analysis underpinning it provide a valuable evidence base for consideration of this matter. The report shows that there has been strong recruitment since 2011 to the estimated 237 recruitment grades across the public service, with over 60,500 new entrants hired. This includes over 16,000 teachers and nearly 5,000 Special Needs Assistants. Full year costs based on a two point increment jump for those effected were estimated at approximately €200m.

Discussions on this issue with public service trade unions and representative associations, commenced in October 2017, with a formal plenary meeting taking place on 27th of April last. Further discussions are ongoing as the parties continue to work through the various aspects of this issue.

I understand the issue regarding primary school principals raised in the question relates to one of the recommendations by the Public Service Benchmarking Body (II) in December 2007 based on a particular point in time public service pay review. The recommendation related to an increase in the allowance payable to principals of primary schools. Provision for payment of the recommendations of the Public Service Benchmarking Body (II) was made under the Towards 2016 – Review and Transitional Agreement 2008-2009. However, payment of the increases provided for under that Agreement were not paid as part of the then Government’s programme of measures to restore stability to the Public Finances and reduce the then existing deficit between income and expenditure.

The non-payment of general round increases under the terms of the Towards 2016 Agreement and certain other third party recommendations were not and have not been paid and were acknowledged under the Haddington Road Agreement as part of the substantial contribution made by public servants to the fiscal consolidation process at that time. Accordingly, I have no plans to implement the recommendations of the Public Service Benchmarking Body (II) made in 2007.