Salaries in the public service

Sir, – This week the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform advertised “clerical positions in the Civil and Public Service”. The starting salary for these positions is “in the region of €21,000 per annum”.

Let’s assume a husband and wife are both employed in such positions, earning a combined total of €42,000 per annum. After tax (including the pension levy), their net weekly income is €699.65.

If the same couple have three or more children, they will qualify for FIS (Family Income Supplement). So, by definition of the Department of Social Welfare, the wages paid by the State to this couple, who work a combined total of 86 hours a week, are so impoverishing as to render them incapable of adequately supporting their three children.

To quote Joan Burton (Dáil Questions, April 16th) “FIS is designed to prevent child and family poverty”. Perhaps civil servants’ wages should be designed to prevent child and family poverty. – Yours, etc,

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ANNEMARIE

McCARTHY,

Carrigadrohid,

Macroom,

Co Cork.