Universities to be allowed to hire on higher salaries

Universities in Ireland are to be allowed to hire staff on salaries higher than that of the Taoiseach (prime minister) under new measures aimed at attracting top talent to the third-level sector, writes Carl O’Brien for The Irish Times.

The government recently agreed that pay restrictions should be lifted to allow colleges to hire world-leading scientists and engineers on salaries of up to €250,000 (US$294,000). The move is aimed at attracting top academic talent from universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in light of the uncertainty caused by Brexit.

Under strict public sector pay rules, public sector employees may not earn more than the Taoiseach’s €190,000 salary. Universities say they are facing major difficulties in attracting top academics under public sector pay rates and have argued for the limits to be increased.
Full report on The Irish Times site