To ask the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 44622/11-15, to detail the nature of the pending necessary approvals within the Executive's Public Sector Pay Policy.

The approval process is detailed within the Department of Finance and Personnel’s Pay Remit Approval Process and Guidance (2014-15), see attached link for ease of reference.

http://www.dfpni.gov.uk/index/finance/afmd/afmd-public-bodies/afmd-public_bodies_to_include_on-board_guide_and_public_bodies_guide/fddfp0814.pdf

Education Authority (EA) staff are employed under terms and conditions set by the National Joint Council (NJC), which has agreed a 2.2% revalorisation pay increase applicable from 1 January 2015 to 31 March 2016. EA staff are therefore contractually entitled to this revalorisation awarded by the NJC. However, Executive Pay Policy prevents the payment of any pay award prior to securing the necessary approvals.

Once the necessary approvals are secured for the 2014-16 pay remit business case, the implementation of the 2.2% pay award will be processed by the EA, who advised that this could take up to 4 months. This is because there are 2 stages to processing the pay award. EA will first place staff on the correct pay scale points and then arrears will be processed and paid. Eligible staff will receive what is due to them, back dated to January 2015. The delay is due to having to complete a pay remit business case and secure the necessary approvals before any payments can be made, in keeping with the Executive’s Public Sector Pay Policy.