Levy penalises ordinary public servants

IN common with many others, I would like to add my voice to the protest against the so-called pensions levy on public service workers.

Over the years, I have worked with many public servants ranging from county managers to general operatives. While human nature will dictate that there will be varying levels of performance among so many people, I have usually found them to be helpful and committed in their work.

It is also no harm to remind ourselves that the term “public servants” does not apply just to people in offices but to teachers, nurses, gardaí and those who keep the various local authority services such as roads, water and sewerage operating from day to day.

There seems to be a perception that people in these jobs do not have to make any contribution to their pensions. From their very first pay cheque, public servants have pension contributions deducted and, even though they qualify for maximum benefits after 40 years’ service, if they stay longer in the job they are still required to continue their contributions for no additional benefit.

The last benchmarking report valued public service pension benefits at 12.5% and, accordingly, most received no award. The Government has also decided that the increases due under the national wage agreement will not be paid.

On top of this, it has now been decided that a levy will be imposed on all public service workers to pay even more for their pensions. The impact will be that a public servant on the averageindustrial wage of e32,000 — and there are many thousands of them — will be required to surrender a net amount after tax of e1,560 on top of the payments already being made. This is on top of outrageous mortgage, childcare and other living expenses that have to be met every day.

Set this against the treatment meted out to senior public servants who have been found wanting in the performance of their public duties, such as the former head of FÁS and the recently retired financial regulator.

The Government should take a hard look at issues such as hugely generous and unvouched allowances paid to Oireachtas members, ministerial pensions paid to sitting TDs who are also drawing substantial salaries, as well as allowances for involvement in Dáil committees. The actual amount involved may not be significant in the overall scheme of things, but what price can be put on leading by example?

Cllr Noel Collins

‘St Jude’s’

Midleton

Co Cork