asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state (1) the amount of emergency bonus for local government officials proposed by each local authority for the year 1944; (2) the amount sanctioned by him in each case; (3) the date from which bonuses are operative, and (4) the salary ceiling for application of bonuses proposed and sanctioned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Emergency Bonus for Local Government Officials.
Emergency bonuses which may be proposed with any prospect of sanction for local officials range from 6/- to 10/- a week except in the case of officers resident in institutions and in receipt of rations, when the rate is generally 5/a week. The granting of these bonuses rests with the local authority. Within the limits stated, bonuses proposed by local authorities have been sanctioned. The operative dates vary and are fixed by the local authority in each case. Emergency bonuses have not been granted to officers on salaries over £500 a year or, in the case of part-time officers, £365 a year. A return showing the amount sanctioned in each case would include thousands of names and it would not be practicable to have it compiled within a reasonable time. In any event the time and expenditure involved in the preparation of such a detailed return would not be warranted.
Mr. Corish
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if his attention has been called to the recent statement of the Minister for Finance in connection with bonuses to be paid to civil servants; and if it is his intention to take the necessary steps to enable local government officials, including vocational teachers, to be treated likewise.
Since 1942 I have, towards the end of each year, reviewed the overriding limits within which increases in remuneration might be granted to the officers and employees of local authorities. The matter will again be reviewed towards the end of this year.
Mr. Corish
Would the Minister say why these men should be treated differently from civil servants? Did the standstill Order not affect them in the same manner?
The circumstances may be altogether different.
Will the Minister bear in mind that his predecessor, Deputy Ruttledge, when recommending the Bill under which the salaries of these officers were stabilised in 1940, gave an assurance on the Committee Stage that these officers would, in future, be treated in the same manner as civil servants? Bearing that assurance in mind, will the Minister say if these employees of local authorities are, in fact, treated in the same way?
Mr. Corish
I should like to know also whether his remarks apply to vocational teachers.
They have got an increased bonus in the last month.
I have no knowledge of the assurance stated to have been given by my predecessor, but, in any event, the overriding consideration in regard to this matter would be the circumstances of the present time.
Mr. Corish
Would the Minister say whether his remarks apply to vocational teachers?
That, I think, is a separate question.
Mr. Corish
It is not; it is in my question.
I said that the question of vocational teachers is a separate one, because in the case of vocational teachers I have obligations to the Minister for Education in this matter.
Mr. Corish
That is all I wanted to know.