asked the Minister for Finance (a) if, in view of the prevailing practice in other employments where salaries are paid monthly, he would be prepared to grant to the lower grades of the Civil Service an advance of salary prior to Christmas, having regard to the fact that these officers have in former years intimated their desire for such payment, so as to enable them to meet the extra strain on their resources which inevitably accompanies the Christmas season; and (b) if he is prepared to consider the payment of fortnightly, instead of monthly, advances of salary to such of these officers as express their desire to be so paid, as being a more appropriate method of payment in the cases of officers in receipt of small salaries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Civil Service Salaries.
(a) The question of special advances of salary prior to Christmas has been brought before me in previous years and, after due consideration, I have felt unable to agree to the concession. I am not aware of the practice in other employments referred to. It has never been the practice to make such advances of salary in the Civil Service, and the introduction of the practice as now suggested would be undesirable.
(b) The question of payment of salary advances fortnightly instead of monthly to officials who express a desire to be so paid is one which I referred to the Representative Council of the Civil Service for their views a considerable time ago. The Council have not yet furnished me with their observations on this matter, but when they do I shall be prepared to give an early decision on it.