Education Minister tells Dáil there is no scope in pay deal to put teachers on equal pay

The Minister for Education has refused to be drawn on when teachers should be put on equal pay scales.

Richard Bruton has told the Dail the money to do it is not there now, and this was known by teaching unions in the public pay deal they negotiated.

Starting salaries of teachers were reduced from €40,000 to €32,000 when the country went bankrupt but Minister Bruton said they will return to almost €36,000 in January.

"We have to be fair and equal to everyone within the public service who have expectations of us," he said.

"We sat down with the teachers' unions, and we negotiated an agreement which met three quarters of what was sought.

"It provides for an entry pay for a newly qualified teacher of €35,600 from next January. We feel that is being fair and equal to everyone," he added..