Public Sector Wages (€bn figure and % of Current Expenditure)

noodler

Does anyone know where I can find this information?

Can't seem to find an aggregate on the Budget figures.

Économiste Monétaire

I think the latest numbers available are contained in the Revised Estimates (table 4).

noodler

Économiste Monétaire wrote: »

I think the latest numbers available are contained in the Revised Estimates (table 4).

Hmm €16bn (Gross) for 2010 expected.

I thought the bill was 20bn before the cuts in the last budget.

Perhaps semi-states make up the difference regarding the figure usually banded about by the media.

Économiste Monétaire

I think the media include pensions in their oft-quoted €20bn pay figure.

Godge

http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/2010/payanal0510.pdf


This document should contain some comparative information

Irish and Proud

On a general note, I work in the public sector as a clerical officer in a county council.

If I was to work full-time, my pay is around €26k (point 4).

Now, having stated my above interests, I for one do think some dramatic changes are needed not just for the initial economic adjustment, but also for the long term in order to have an effective state system. I've written down a few examples below:

I hear for example that there are employees working in the HSE who are getting paid grade 8 salaries for Grade 3 work - this is totally unacceptable and would not happen where I'm working. I for one think the HSE administration (70% of HSE's budget goes on wages) may have to be disbanded while hospitals etc go into temporary administration. This would mean mass redundancies if any meaningful savings were to be made. A new streamlined administration should then takeover the running of the hospitals and clinics. High six figure salaries throughout the public service will have to go in order to restore credibility in the public eye. This would even mean letting go many top host/presenters in RTE - this country can simply not afford this. Also, the chief executives in the public services on salaries exceeding €500k will have to be let go. Even if we have to bring in foreign expertise from countries with a lower cost base, then so be it. What I'm really saying is that if we are to have proper economic recovery, then the government has to have the people on side - that certainly won't happen with excessive salaries and multiple pensions.

Now about pensions, people will not want to hear this, but we all have to get real about pensions. First of all, a basic pension in my mind is a payment that allows people to live comfortably after they retire from work. My understanding is that in both the public and private sectors, the employer has to make a contribution to pensions that are way above the basic level. No, I'm not whinging for the employer, because it's not the employer the ultimately pays for this, but us the ordinary working people - either through taxes or the higher cost of goods and services. If people want more than a basic pension, then they should have to save - that way, there would be much less of a burden on young families etc who now must struggle to survive while older people can fly almost anywhere at will - this is simply unfair!!! What I'm saying is that yes, the country must look after the older population and ensure that they are comfortable, but should not have to pay for the excesses - if older people want luxuries such as flying abroad etc, then they should save over a time period - I do have a model for this, but I won't go into it. As for the TDs etc, pensions should only be for when you retire (I mean at 64), and you should only ever get one pension.

I would also like to see agencies such as the National Roads Authority (NRA) turned into semi-state bodies which would raise their own finances - regarding the NRA car tax would then be scrapped as well as the scandalous VRT extortion racket (after 2015). The NRA should also get half of all petrol excise duty (the other half going to renewable energy etc). Also, all Regional roads would go under their remit and the desired result is that the motoring public would get value for money. The government would still get VAT on cars at 21% - a much fairer figure than the current 40% between VAT and VRT. As the NRA would get a continuous stream of money, investment in our roads would be secured - even if it's only maintenance / minor works. Some other state services could work on that model so that we move further away from the central melting pot system that is currently in place.

Aspects of the health system could be modelled on insurance so that those who look after themselves well will pay less into the health coffers - it's only fair. Obviously that system would not apply to those who fall ill through no fault of their own or those who have accidents or conditions. I'm not talking about going the way of the US health system. All in all, my suggestion should mean that people would be healtier and the state would have to pay less towards health. I would also make it a criminal offence for doctors to withhold any information that would be of benefit to patients (ie. natural remedies for ailments) in order to sustain visits and therefore, income from fees. Again, fair is fair!

These are just are few examples of what I'd like to see done in this country - has anyone anything to add?

PS. Sorry Mods, I went a bit off topic here - forgot what thread I was in, so please forgive me!

Delancey

Tempting though it may be to allow Goverment Bodies like the NRA to become semi-state's and raise their own finance we must not lose sight of the fact that at the end of the day Irish business and consumers will pick up the tab.
We are still uncompetitive and saddling business with a host of charges be it Toll's , Registration charges , etc will cost lost investment and jobs.

We must reduce the cost of doing business here - why are waste charges so high for example compared to other countries ?

The thought of Self-financing QUANGO's is a chilling prospect.

Économiste Monétaire

Not an appropriate place for a rant, lads. Unless you want to add another source for public-sector wage statistics, take it to the Irish Economy forum.