Why are finance officials paid more than general civil servants?

[BodyofEvidence]

There is a curious anomaly in the pay rates of civil servants. Theres a split in the Assistant Principle and Principle Officer Grades. Theres a grade called AP(higher) and PO(Higher) which as far as I know is restricted to the Dept Finance and Taoiseachs.
Now - why should these guys who has spectactularily mucked it up for years get more than a hardworking AP slaving away in Fisheries or Enterprise or whererver?

The pay grades (from AHCPS, Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants Dublin Ireland) are

PRINCIPAL (HIGHER)

€92,730 €96,555 €100,392 €104,217 €107,485 €110,9281 €114,3662

PRINCIPAL

€86,168 €89,819 €93,449 €97,109 €100,191 €103,3891 €106,5822
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL (HIGHER)

€72,681 €75,448 €78,226 €80,989 €83,760 €85,375 €88,1351 €90,8842

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

€66,179 €68,656 €71,132 €73,609 €76,087 €77,520 €80,0161 €82,5202

[baldur0300]

A friend of mine was just promoted to AP1 in Justice so me thinks you're misinformed.

[Duth Ealla]

One large company I worked in paid all its Finance staff higher rates simply because they were performing more speciaist roles than other Administrative staff.

[BodyofEvidence]

A friend of mine was just promoted to AP1 in Justice so me thinks you're misinformed.

ok - why the split then?. Thanks for the calrification.

[BodyofEvidence]

One large company I worked in paid all its Finance staff higher rates simply because they were performing more speciaist roles than other Administrative staff.

You think Dept Finance is more specialist than anywhere else? No great evidence of specialist knowledge in the last few years....

[baldur0300]

ok - why the split then?. Thanks for the calrification.

Just two different grades. I know in her case, she had been an AP2 for five or six years but she got the promotion to AP1 when the position became available.

[odie1kanobe]

You think Dept Finance is more specialist than anywhere else? No great evidence of specialist knowledge in the last few years....

Based on what ?

Do you assume everybody is forecasting ?

[smitchy2]

I would agree with finance role being much more specialised than other areas of the civil service so there is no problem with these areas being paid more.
What once again is being highlighted is that these starter levels for senior civil servants are extremely generous for a state body which relies on funding these salaries from taxes.

[BodyofEvidence]

Based on what ?

Do you assume everybody is forecasting ?

its a pretty small department. But with a fierce and unjusified superiority complex. So, yeah, at AP/PO/AS level, if they are going to pay them the salaries of top academics, then I want them to have and display the capabilities of same. You think they have?

[corelli]

A friend of mine was just promoted to AP1 in Justice so me thinks you're misinformed.

It's not restricted, as you point out, to particular Departments. It is, however, hard to get sanction for.

The only grade that is is that of Administrative Officer which is partcular to Finance/Revenue and Justice, for some reason.