asked the Minister for Lands whether he has received representations from the State Foresters' Association regarding their wages and conditions of employment; and whether, in view of the long period which has elapsed since the matter was first represented to him, he will indicate when a definite decision will be conveyed to the association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - State Foresters' Wages.
The remuneration of foresters and forest foremen in the forestry division of my Department has been the subject of representations from the State Foresters' Association from time to time over a considerable period. During the emergency years the remuneration of these officers could not be increased except by the grant of emergency bonus, for reasons of general practice. Temporary allowances in respect of increased duties were granted to the foresters and foremen from the beginning of 1946. Their basic rates of remuneration will now fall to be increased in consequence of recent decisions in regard to Civil Service remuneration generally.
The only question relating to the conditions of service of foresters and foremen, in regard to which representations were made by the State Foresters' Association, which has been the subject of prolonged consideration, and in which a final decision has not yet been communicated to the association, is the grant 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 which is 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.
Am I to take it from what the Minister said in respect to the remuneration of State foresters that their pay will be adjusted on the basis of the recent agreement between the Civil Service associations and the Minister?
Yes.