asked the Minister for Lands whether he has on many occasions received representations from State foresters for establishment as civil servants with pension rights, etc.; and, if so, and having regard to the importance of their work and responsibilities, he will state the grounds for refusing this request.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Forestry Workers.
asked the Minister for Lands if, in view of the great dissatisfaction amongst the members of the State Forestry Service with their conditions of employment, and especially with the low rates of salaries, he will recommend substantial increases in the rates of salaries payable to the various grades of these important workers.
asked the Minister for Lands whether foresters in the State service have to cycle many miles every day on official business; whether they have to supply their own bicycles; and whether every forester receives a cycle maintenance allowance; and, if so, the amount of the allowance.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the number of foresters in receipt of 7/6 per week as lodging allowance, and the numbers in receipt of each lesser amount than 7/6.
asked the Minister for Lands if he will state the periods of annual leave granted to each class of forestry workers, and whether regard is had to the fact that even when transport facilities are normal it takes some men two or more days to get home and the same period in returning; and if he will increase the periods of leave to bring them more into accord with modern ideas of conditions of employment.
asked the Minister for Lands whether forestry employees styled "foremen-in-charge" have to do the same work and have the same responsibilities as foresters, and whether these are the men who are shown in the Estimates as being in receipt of a salary of £120 per annum, or £2 6s. 1d. per week; and, if so, if he will grade them as foresters.
I propose to take together the Deputy's six questions in relation to the conditions of forestry workers.
The State Foresters' Association has made representations on a number of occasions for the granting of established status to the forester grades. The question of the establishment of foresters is, however, bound up with consideration of the question of granting established status to unestablished officers generally in the Civil Service, which is, I understand, the subject of an actuarial investigation by the Department of Finance. Pending the completion of this investigation, consideration cannot be given to the question of the admission to established status of any particular class of unestablished officers such as the forester grades.
The scales of salary of foresters and forest foremen were raised to their present level in 1938. The question of granting further increases in these scales is not solely a matter for my Department; but, in common with other classes of civil servants, foresters and forest foremen have been granted emergency bonuses.
Foresters are required to provide themselves with pedal cycles for the efficient discharge of their official duties. Each forester receives a cycle maintenance allowance of £2 per annum, which is intended to cover all journeys on official business to places within a radius of four miles from the forest centre. Journeys by bicycle on official business to places outside this radius are paid for on a mileage basis.
Forty-five foresters are in receipt of an allowance of 7/6 a week in lieu of free housing accommodation. No forester is in receipt of a housing allowance of less than 7/6 a week, but a few foresters receive a housing allowance in excess of 7/6.
The annual leave allowances of the forester and foremen grades are as follows:— Head Forester, 18 days; Forester Grade I, 15 days; Forester Grade II, 12 days, rising to 15 days after 5 years' service; and Forest Foremen, 12 days.
These allowances are considered adequate having regard to the leave allowances applicable to analogous classes in the Civil Service generally, and in outside employment, and in the matter of transport facilities the forestry workers are not in a worse position than numerous other classes.
A forest foreman is normally employed to assist a forester in charge of a large and important forest unit. He has not the same responsibility, nor is he expected to perform the same duties as a forester. He is paid a fixed inclusive salary of £120 per annum, plus emergency bonus, and is also in receipt of a housing allowance where he does not occupy an official residence. A foreman may be placed occasionally in charge of a small forest unit, and while so employed he is paid a special allowance of 5/- a week in addition to his ordinary remuneration. It is not proposed to grade such foremen as foresters.