Pay rises for 30,000 teachers to cost €22m

MORE than 30,000 teachers will receive pay increases worth almost €22 million next year, while students and their families suffer another round of cutbacks.

The increases are part of a €250m annual increase to the public sector pay bill arising from salary increments guaranteed under the Croke Park deal between unions and the last government in return for productivity measures.

The increases range from just over €1,000 to €3,615 a year — up to €301 extra a month — for those working full-time. But because most teachers’ increments do not take effect until September, the average cost to taxpayers next year will be about €670 per teacher.