Low Paid Staff In Education Sector To Receive £250

Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has made funding available to allow payments of £250 to be made to low paid staff in the education sector.

The payments, for staff earning less than £21,000 a year, reflected the decision across the public sector to provide additional payments to low paid staff at a time when a pay freeze was effective. Certain education bodies had made the payment to staff in 2010/11, but had found it not affordable in 2011/12. The Minister’s move will pave the way for these staff to receive their second payment.

Mr O'Dowd also announced that he has made funding available so that eligible staff in Voluntary Grammar Schools and the Grant Maintained Integrated sector, who have yet to receive a payment for either year, would receive their money.

Mr O'Dowd said: "When a decision was made to impose a two-year freeze on public sector pay, it was recognised that those on lower incomes should receive some uplift to their pay. As a result, all eligible staff were to receive a £250 payment for each year, prorated for part-time staff.

"Many staff across the education sector were affected and the payments have already been made to the majority of those who were entitled. In some instances, however, the payments remain outstanding.

"Due to affordability issues, staff in some bodies, including the Education and Library Boards, have not yet received payment for 2011/12. Today I can inform these staff that I have made funding available to ensure they do not miss out on this money."

(CD)