Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
478. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection for the up-to-date position on his Department's engagement with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to remuneration and related matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46858/26]
View answerMy Department currently has 55 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations around the country that play an important role in supporting the Department in the delivery of services at local level. Each Social Welfare Branch Office is operated and managed, under a commercial contract for service, by a Branch Manager. It is important to note that Branch managers are independent self-employed contractors.
There are two Branch Manager representative groups, The Branch Manager’s Association (BMA) and Representative Group of Branch Managers (RGBM). Officials from my Department actively engage with the representative groups on contractual and service delivery issues.
The current Branch Manager remuneration package was agreed in conjunction with an improved service delivery model to be provided by Branch Managers in 2018. The Department reviewed this package in April 2023 and provided for a further increase in the Branch Manager remuneration arrangements at that time.
Following requests in 2025 from both Branch Manager associations to review current payment arrangements, the Department carried out a review in the context of the 2026 budgetary process.
As required, the Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to secure sanction for increased Branch Manager remuneration. Following discussions with officials in that Department, sanction was secured to apply a 10% increase from 1 June 2026 with no further expenditure allocated for remuneration in 2026.
Department officials notified both associations of this outcome on 8 May 2026. The revised remuneration packages were communicated to each branch manager during the week commencing 11 May for their review and acceptance.
Both associations have requested that the increase take effect from the 1 January 2026 and not from 1 June 2026.
The BMA and associated Branch Managers have requested an arbitration process to be commenced on the current remuneration review and were advised of the Department's position on arbitration on 29th May 2026.
The Department has facilitated discussions with both representative groups on an on-going basis. At a recent meeting with the BMA, the Department emphasised that all Government funding for 2026 must adhere strictly to expenditure ceilings, and the approved remuneration package must be accommodated within the 2026 budget allocation. Within this context, the 10% increase from 1 June 2026 remains the Department’s sanctioned offer.
I acknowledge the work of Branch Managers, and their staff in providing a continuous high standard of service delivery. The Department has taken cognisance of the increased costs of running a business in the review and the resulting sanctioned increase in the remuneration package, which has been offered to all Branch Managers.
