Teachers’ pay and pensions cost €45m more than expected

TEACHERS’ pay and pensions cost €45 million more than expected last year despite Government efforts to cut costs in the public service.

The €1 billion pension bill for retired teachers and staff of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and institutes of technology was €30m more than the Department of Education had allowed for in its 2010 budget.

“Due to the current economic climate, a higher number than anticipated retired in 2010,” a department summary of its provisional 2010 spending says.