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Proposals for Public Service Agreement - Key elements of the deal

§    3 year agreement to run from 1 July 2013 to end June 2016

§   Over the course of the Agreement, the overall savings target set by Government will be achieved.

§  An increase in working hours across the public service; delivering a long-term, sustainable and unprecedented increase in productivity as well as a significant reduction in overtime and agency costs.   Those currently working under 35 hours will in future work a minimum of 37 hours.  Those working between 35 and under 39 hours will in future work 39 hours.  Additional hours will also facilitate reductions in public service numbers.

§  Remaining overtime costs will be paid at a reduced rate – Time and half at the first point of the scale for those on less than €35k.  Time and a quarter at the individual’s scale point for those over €35k.  Those public servants currently on 39 hours will provide an unpaid hour’s overtime.

§  Elimination of Twilight payments and reduced rate of time and three quarters for Sunday pay.

§   Increment freeze of varying lengths:  A 3 year freeze for those over €65k, two 3-month freezes (i.e. two 15 month increments) for those between €35k and €65k and a single 3 month freeze for those under €35k (i.e. a 15-month rather than 12 month increment).  Balancing measures for those already at the max. of their scales have also been agreed, either a reduction in annual leave of a total of 6 days over the Agreement or a cash deduction from salary of an equivalent amount or the value of half of the last increment, whichever is the lesser.

§ Separately, the Government will reduce the pay of those over €65k progressively as follows:

o       5.5% on the first €80,000 of salary and allowances

o       8% between €80,000 and €150,000

o       9% between €150,000 and €185,000

o       10% above €185,000

§   Elimination of Supervision and Substitution payments in the education sector.

§  There are a range of additional savings associated with this Agreement including in certain sectors; public service pensions etc.

§  A modest amelioration of the Pension Related Deduction has been included as part of the Agreement. It is agreed to reduce the €15,000-€20,000 band rate to 2.5% from 5%.

§  A series of long-term work place reforms have also been agreed as part of this deal.  These include:

o   Revisions to flexitime arrangements and work sharing patterns

o    Revisions to redeployment provisions

o    Strengthened performance management arrangements

o    Proposals in the area of grade restructuring

§  Measures will need to be underpinned by legislation