EIGHTEEN politicians who left teaching to enter the Dail or Seanad are still receiving part of their teacher's salaries on top of their Oireachtas earnings, according to the Department of Education.
The Department refuses to disclose the sums involved, but it is understood they can vary from small amounts up to about £10,000 a year.
Only four TDs revealed they were receiving the differential salary payment in the politicians' register of interests published last month. This required the declaration of additional income worth more than £2,000 a year.
However, in amendments to the register to be published later this week, two more TDs - Ms Theresa Ahearn of Fine Gael and Mr Ball O'Keeffe, Fianna Fail, who is a third level lecturer - say they also receive the differential payment. Two politicians, presumably senators, continue to work as teachers while serving, in the Oireachtas, thereby qualifying for two full salaries, the Department says.
In all, there are 26 former first and second level teachers and one adult education organiser in the current Oireachtas - more than any other profession. Of these, nine, including Ms Mary O'Rourke, do not receive any money from their former post.
The list includes the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin; the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan; the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Mr Kenny; as well as junior ministers Mr Jim Higgins and Mr Brian O'Shea.
The Fine Gael TD, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, receives a differential salary of almost £2,500 a year, while Fianna Fail's Mr Micheal Martin has said he is paid about £1,000 a year.
Teachers who are elected to the Oireachtas qualify for the difference between their teacher's salary and the cost of employing a temporary teacher to replace them. If the elected teacher is senior, and the replacement is on the lower increments, the differential can be as high as £10,000.
Politicians on secondment from teaching continue to rise up the teachers' pay scale while in the Oireachtas. They also continue to make pension contributions and so qualify for both an Oireachtas and a teacher's pension.
The other teachers in the Oireachtas include: Mr Austin Deasy, Mr Paul McGrath and Mr Dinny McGinley of Fine Gael; Mr Tommy Broughan, Ms Roisin Shortall and Mr Joe Costello of Labour; and Mr Noel Dempsey, Mr Liam Fitzgerald, Mr Tony Killeen, Mr Tom Kilt and Mr Micheal Kitt of Fianna Fail. Mr Trevor Sargent of the Greens and the independent TD, Mr Tony Gregory, are also teachers.
In the Seanad, there are five teachers: Mr Frank Fahey, Ms Ann Ormonde of Fianna Fail; Mr Bill Cotter and Mr Jarlath McDonagh of Fine Gael, and Mr Michael Calnan of Labour.
The amendments to the register to be published in Iris Ofigiul this week cover a number of additions and corrections. Several TDs have added information about directorships they hold, including Mr Seamus Hughes and Senator Eddie Bohan. The Fine Gael TD, Mr Peter Barry, has declared his status as the only shareholder of Barry's Tea, from which he receives income and dividends.
