THE CONTINUING failure of some university presidents and other high-earning academic staff to take a voluntary pay cut has been criticised by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn.
Last year, the Minister – in a letter to college governing authorities – requested that all those earning over €200,000 should accept a pay cut.
The request, which specifically excluded academic medical consultants, targeted eight academics – including four college presidents – who earn over €200,000 per year.
To date, only two presidents appear to have responded to the call. Last night, UCC confirmed that Dr Michael Murphy – the highest-paid president with an annual salary of €232,000 – has not taken a voluntary pay cut.
A UCD spokeswoman said the college does not comment on individual contracts including that of its president, Dr Hugh Brady, who earns €202,000 per year.
Mr Quinn told The Irish Times he was disappointed with the overall response to his request. Everyone who was fortunate enough to be in employment has had to take a reduction in pay: “People in a position of leadership have to give leadership.”
In recent months, two presidents have responded to Mr Quinn’s letter – although neither has taken a waiver of pay in favour of the State.
TCD provost Paddy Prendergast has taken a €1,492 cut, bringing his salary to €200,000.
He will donate the €1,492 annually to the Trinity Foundation to help fund student scholarships.
NUI Galway president Dr Jim Browne is donating €2,500 annually to the Galway University Foundation, which will see his salary fall to €199,000 – just below the €200,000 limit favoured by the Government.
Mr Quinn wrote to the country’s seven universities in July. Later last year, the former department general secretary Brigid McManus also wrote seeking compliance with the Government pay cap of €200,000, which applies to new entrants in the public service.
Mr Quinn told the Dáil recently there had been no voluntary waivers of pay in favour of the State. The department, he said , cannot insist on a waiver nor can it insist that a waiver follows any particular format.
The salary of three other university presidents at DCU, NUI Maynooth and UL already falls below the €200,000 ceiling.
In his Irish Times interview , Mr Quinn described a recent Irish Times article by Dr Paul Mooney as “provocative’’ with “some interesting views”. Dr Mooney, the former president of the National College of Ireland, was critical of the “light workload’’ of some lecturing staff across higher education. The Minister said the Bord Snip Nua report had made some similar observations, particularly in relation to the institute of technology sector.
“In this office , we don’t know how individual lecturers – or for that matter individual teachers – are doing their job. We have to ensure good management of the sector so people are working at their optimum level.”
