Trinity defies staffing curbs by promoting 27 senior academics

TWENTY-SEVEN senior academics have been promoted at Trinity College Dublin and will get major pay increases and bigger pensions, despite a general ban on promotions throughout the public sector.

The decision has caused disquiet in other colleges that have put promotions on hold, and anger elsewhere as it comes at a time when disability and other services are being cut.

The promotions were approved by the university in 'recognition of academic achievements to date' by the staff.

The pay increases will come from the normal government grant to the university.

The 27 academics are getting the new titles immediately and the intention is to pay them the extra money from the end of the year.

The amounts that they are getting vary, depending at which point they will be slotted in on their new salary scale and how soon they reach the top of the scale.

Initially, the raises will be worth an extra €4,000 to €10,000, depending on the grade, but within five years the 27 will be getting from €13,000 to €35,000 more than they are earning at present, plus bigger pensions.

Three of the staff have been appointed as full professors, where the incremental salary scale goes up to €145,952 a year; seven have become associate professors, where the top of the scale is €110,066; and the remaining 17 have been appointed senior lecturers, who will be paid up to €94,035 a year.

Trinity College said that these internal promotions followed a rigorous competitive 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.

But the Department of Education and Skills last night questioned whether the promotions were inconsistent with government policy on promotions in the public service.

'The department has sought details, through the Higher Education Authority (HEA), with a view to ensuring compliance by all institutions with its terms,' a spokesperson said.

The decision comes just a few months after the Department of Finance specifically made it clear to the HEA that it did not favour the approval of a number of promotions that had been sought across the university sector.

The Irish Independent understands that the HEA subsequently wrote to the universities to advise them of the department's position.

'Outrageous'

But the decision to promote the academics was defended by Trinity. A spokesperson said the process had begun in November 2008 before the moratorium was implemented.

Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay said salary rises of €35,000 for three newly appointed professors was more than many ordinary people were earning in a year. 'It's outrageous that this should happen in the current climate when people are suffering,' he said.

Fine Gael's education spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said it was sending out the wrong signal at a time when €3bn in savings were being sought by the Government.

'We all have to make sacrifices,' said Mr O'Dowd, who added that the academics in question were in secure, pensionable jobs.

The 27 will be promoted in title only for the duration of the current Employment Control Framework for the sector, which specifies a 6pc cut in staff numbers over a two-year period.

Trinity will meet its obligations to reduce staff by the end of the year, after which the 27 academics will get pay rises.

Last night, the Irish Federation of University Teachers also defended the promotions.

General Secretary Mike Jennings said he understood the resentment of people who opposed the extra payment but he did not share it. 'People should be paid if they were promoted - the alternative is to equalise everybody downwards,' he said.

Both the departments of education and finance and the HEA have an 'oversight' function in regard to the employment framework. It is known that Trinity has been in contact with the HEA about the promotions.

The future of the framework is unclear, but political sources said that it would certainly continue in some form or another and it would continue to curtail promotions.

- John Walshe Education Editor

Irish Independent