To ask the Minister for Agriculture whether in view of the fact that the answer of the Minister for Home Affairs re grievances of the National Library Assistants was unsatisfactory in so far as it failed to recognise the real source of the discontent, i.e., incommensurate remuneration for nature of work performed, he will take into consideration the fact that these men perform duties not of a routine, but of a professional and technical nature, analogous to those performed in the British Museum Department of Printed Books. That much clerical work is expected of them, combined with a corresponding intelligence in understanding the Classification of books, and the comparative excellence of books as authorities. Whether he will define the duties upon which the Assistants in the Library are daily engaged. Whether there are several with 15 years and upwards established service whose basic salary amounts to less than £80 per annum. Whether in his report to the Council of Trustees of the National Library for 1921-22 (May, 1922) the Chairman stated that “the increases allowed are less than those put forward as equitable by the Trustees over three years ago, before the recent general rise in prices and salaries had taken place,” and this being so, the Minister will give an undertaking to institute an immediate inquiry into the salaries paid to this Staff, as they are utterly inconsistent with the recommendations of the Reorganisation Committee and do not constitute a just return for services rendered.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. - NATIONAL LIBRARY ASSISTANTS (REMUNERATION).
TOMAS de NOGLA
Mr. P. HOGAN
It is not feasible to give a precise definition of the daily duties of the National Library Assistants, as these duties are very varied and range from the cleaning and dusting of books to clerical work. The amount of clerical work similarly varies greatly, and is determined by the length of hours of public service, and the seniority and consequent experience of the Assistants.
Detailed information as to the duties of Assistants in the British Museum of Printed Books is not available, so that a comparison of duties cannot be made.
The statement that there are several assistants with 15 years and upwards established service, whose basic salary amounts to less than £80 per annum is not correct.
The Chairman of the Trustees of the National Library has made the statement quoted in his report for the year 1921-22, but the rise in prices to which he refers has been met by the award of a bonus based on the official index cost of living figure.
I may say that the reorganisation scheme approved by the British Treasury, while effecting an improvement in the remuneration of the Assistant class, did not give the increase proposed by either the Council of Trustees or the Department of Agriculture. The scales of salary will be again reviewed at a favourable opportunity.