TCD faces fines over pay hikes for 27 academics

TRINITY College Dublin (TCD) faces massive fines for giving 27 academics pay increases.

The 27 were controversially promoted last summer but the university delayed paying the increases until last month.

The increases range from €3,500 to €5,200 per year initially -- but will be worth from €12,900 to €35,886 extra annually within a few years. They come as the vast majority of public servants face a prolonged pay freeze and reduced take-home money after cuts in their salaries last year.

The Department of Education and Skills said last night: "The promotions were made outside the terms of the Employment Control Framework that has been in operation in the sector and are therefore unauthorised under the terms of that framework. TCD has been notified of this."

Unauthorised

The spokesman said that the Higher Education Authority would be in discussions with Trinity "with a view to protecting the Exchequer from any unauthorised costs".

Sources said that the annual grant to the college will be reduced by the amount of the unauthorised payments.

The biggest pay hike will be for three associate professors who have been promoted to full professorships. Their starting salary is now €113,604 but this will rise to €145,952 in five years' time.

Seven senior lecturers have been transferred to associate professor rank, starting at €99,236, which is the fourth point of the salary scale, but reaching the top of the scale at €110,066 in just two years' time.

Seven other lecturers have been promoted to senior lecturer scales. Their new salary is €85,778 and they will reach the top of the scale, €94,035, in two years -- €12,570 more than they would have received if they remained in their present posts.

The college has defended the pay rises saying the internal promotions followed a rigorous competition process and were made on the basis of achievements.

The criteria included the demonstration of excellence in research and teaching, achieving international standing, securing research funding, publication of papers and citations.

The salary rises were delayed for several months until it was clear that Trinity had met the 6pc reduction in staff numbers demanded under the Employment Control Framework -- it shed 115 jobs in all, or 6.1pc of its total staff numbers.

The college said that the promotions process had begun before the clampdown on pay rises and jobs in the public sector was imposed.

- John Walshe Education Editor

Irish Independent