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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1943

Vol. 89 No. 18

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Civil Service.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will give particulars of the number of civil servants employed during the year ending 31st March, 1932, indicating the number (a) established, (b) unestablished, and the total cost for the year mentioned; also comparative figures for the year ending March 31st, 1943; and if he will also state the portion of the total cost for the latter period which represents the increase in the cost-of-living bonus granted to civil servants since September, 1939.

The answer is a long one and, with the Deputy's permission, I will have it printed in the Official Report.

Following is the reply:—

Figures showing the numbers and costs of civil servants employed during the years ended 31st March, 1932, and 31st March, 1943, are not available as the census of staff is taken on the 1st January in each year. The following statement, however, shows the numbers and annual costs in respect of salaries, wages and allowances of civil servants employed on 1st January, 1932, and 1st January, 1942. Corresponding particulars as on 1st January, 1943, are not yet available.

NUMBERS EMPLOYED

Total of salaries, wages and allowances

Established

Unestablished

Total

£

1st January, 1932

10,634

11,159

21,796

3,819,542

1st January, 1942

13,756

14,420

28,176

5,629,041

The figures given in respect of unestablished staffs do not include (a) persons employed on relief schemes, (b) persons employed on a fee basis, and (c) artisans, labourers, etc., employed on schemes or works of a temporary nature, other than relief schemes, who are not regarded strictly as civil servants.

In order to make the figures given above for 1st January, 1932, comparable with those for 1st January, 1942, a total of 792 persons, some of whom were employed on a taskwork, piecework, or fee basis and some of whom were employed on works of a temporary nature, are not included in the particulars for 1st January, 1932.

The annual cost as at 1st January, 1942, includes the cost of the increase in cost-of-living bonus granted as from 1st January, 1940, when the Civil Service cost-of-living figure rose from 75 to 85. The annual cost of this increase is approximately £200,000. Civil Service cost-of-living bonus was stabilised at the figure of 85 as from 1st July, 1940, and no further increase in bonus was given until the 1st June, 1942, when certain limited increases were granted under the Civil Service (Stabilisation of Bonus) (Amendment) Regulations, 1942. On the 1st January, 1943, emergency bonus increases, inclusive of the increases granted in June, 1942, were granted to civil servants generally, whether their salaries had previously included a variable cost-of-living bonus or not, by the Civil Service (Emergency Bonus) Regulations, 1943. The annual cost of these increases, which is not, of course, included in the figure of annual cost as at 1st January, 1942, is estimated to be approximately £300,000.

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