asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that an emergency bonus of 5/- weekly to married and 3/6 weekly to unmarried men is given to officials employed by local bodies and that national teachers and members of the Gárda Síochána receive a bonus of 7/- to married and 5/- to unmarried men, and if he will take any necessary steps to have the bonus paid to officials employed by local bodies, made equal to that paid to the above-mentioned State employees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bonus Payments to Local Officials.
The rates of emergency bonus referred to, viz., 5/- and 3/6 a week, are those which have been given to officials employed by local bodies in urban areas other than county boroughs. In county boroughs the emergency bonus rates which have been given are 7/- a week to married and 5/- a week to unmarried officers whose pay does not exceed a prescribed limit. As regards the latter portion of the question, in determining the rate of bonus to be paid it was necessary to have regard not only to the different cost-of-living conditions prevailing in various districts, but also to the fact that many of the ratepayers in most of these areas are themselves hard pressed and without any compensation for the increased cost of living.
Does the Minister consider that it is fair that these married employees should only receive 5/- per week when other classes of public servants receive a very much larger sum?
I think that, taking into account the consideration which I have mentioned, that many ratepayers who have to provide these bonuses are themselves in very difficult circumstances, it is perfectly fair.
Is the Minister aware that many taxpayers who have to pay national teachers and Guards may also be in difficult circumstances and can he not see the complete inadequacy of the argument put forward?
Mr. Larkin
Might I ask—does this answer apply to the officers under the joint board of the Grangegorman and Portrane Mental Hospitals, inasmuch as the manager and the citizens' representative agreed to pay an increase to married men in the service of 7/- a week; to married women of 5/- a week, and to single men of 3/- a week, and his Department overruled that agreement and only granted an increase of 2/-?
I have only to say in reply to that supplementary that every relevant consideration was taken into account.
Will the Minister take steps to have these sums increased?
It is not my responsibility to take steps to impose any additional burden on the ratepayers.
If the local bodies are ready to increase them, will the Minister sanction the increase?
I think that that is quite a separate question.
That is an excellent runaway.