asked the Minister for Local Government if any uniform scale of increase is adopted in respect of the granting of sanction to applications from local authorities to increase the remuneration of their different staffs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remuneration of Staffs of Local Authorities.
The question of granting increases to their different staffs is a matter for the local authorities in the first instance. So far as road workers are concerned, proposals submitted by local authorities for increases in wages are considered on their merits as received. In regard to other workers employed by local authorities, I have advised the local authorities generally that remuneration in the case of tradesmen may follow the locally recognised trade union rate and, in the case of other employees, the wage rate paid locally in what is regarded by the local authority as employment of a comparable nature. In the case of local officers, local authorities were informed in April, 1949, that the Minister would be prepared to sanction temporary increases in remuneration as from 1st November, 1948, not greater than 7½ per cent. of their annual rate of remuneration and not exceeding £100 in any case.
Would the Minister say in reference to applications that come before him, whether there is a uniform scale for officers of local authorities applicable to all county council areas or has the Minister's Department any fixed policy in the matter? Is there a uniform scale of salary, wages or allowances in respect to similar officers in the employment of local authorities or can any indication be given as to what is the Minister's policy in the matter of applications coming before local authorities for increased salaries and wages?
There is uniformity in the case of officials but not in the case of other employees.
Is there uniformity in the case of officers?
Yes.