Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
206. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the cost of backdating the planned pay increase associated with the grade review of the Secretaries General of the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41286/23]
View answerThe independent Report completed recently on the Grading of these two Secretary General posts recommends that:
· the Secretary General post in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth be set at Secretary General Level II, and
· the Secretary General post in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage be set at Secretary General Level I.
These changes will be effective from the date of appointment of the current Secretaries General to these posts. The salaries for Secretary General Level I, II and III (since 01 March 2023, as published in Circular 02 of 2023) are as follows:
|
PPC |
Non-PPC |
|
|
Secretary General - Level I |
€255,000 |
€242,250 |
|
Secretary General - Level II |
€240,000 |
€228,000 |
|
Secretary General - Level III |
€227,369 |
€216,000 |
*PPC rates apply to Civil Servants appointed on or after 6th April 1995 and are required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution (otherwise known as a main scheme contribution) in accordance with the rules of their main/personal superannuation scheme.
The impact of any such change on individuals will depend on the personal circumstances of relevant individuals, including any period of unpaid leave (including sick leave) or other working arrangements that may apply. This change will be given effect through arrangements between the relevant line Department and the National Shared Service Office (NSSO).
It should be noted that the calculation of payments will be influenced by the final stage of FEMPI restoration that took effect on 1 July 2022 (Circular 15/2022, which provided for the completion of outstanding FEMPI pay restoration for certain Civil Service Grades with a basic salary of more than €150,000, in accordance with Section 20 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017). This was the date of the final FEMPI restoration for Secretary General posts, and prior to this unwinding, Secretary General grades levels I and II (PPC) were at the same rate of remuneration under FEMPI.
More generally, Secretary General remuneration is included in the annual Appropriation Accounts. Circular 22/2022, which set out the detailed requirements for the Appropriation Accounts 2022, includes a note on the remuneration and benefits of Accounting Officers (Secretaries General). A disclosure of the Accounting Officer’s total remuneration is to be provided in note 5 to Departments’ annual Appropriation Accounts. The requirement is for a disclosure note to the financial statement including details of the total remuneration for the Accounting Officer, including the total Gross Salary and taxable benefits (excluding employer’s PRSI).
