No doubt most Deputies are aware that a scheme of conciliation and arbitration for the Civil Service commenced to function in June, 1950, and that discussions on a claim from certain Civil Service grades for an increase in rates of remuneration began at the conciliation level in November, 1950. Accommodation, however, was not reached in these discussions and ultimately, on the 20th April, 1951, my predecessor referred the Civil Service claim to the Civil Service Arbitration Board.
The Civil Service Arbitration Board presented its report to the Government on the 24th May last. A copy of the report has been laid before the Dáil and it is thus available to Deputies who may desire to give it closer consideration. The practical effect of it will be to increase the cost of the Civil Service by in round figures £1,242,000 in an ordinary financial year, but, as the award is made retrospective to the 15th January last, by £1,500,750 in this present year.
Simultaneously with deciding to implement the award, the preceding Government decided to negotiate a settlement of the claims of the higher officers of the Civil Service who were excluded from the arbitration, and such a settlement was, in fact, negotiated, again with retrospective effect as from the 15th January last.
Both commitments, estimated to cost annually £1,395,000, are being honoured—at a total cost in the present financial year of £1,685,000.
Arising out of the findings of the Civil Service Arbitration Board upward revisions of the pay and allowances of the Defence Forces and of the Garda Síochána have also to be considered. It is not possible yet to say definitely what the increases are likely to amount to, but the total figure for the two services will be in the neighbourhood of £600,000 for an ordinary year. For this year, however, since the revised scales will have effect as from the 15th January, the actual cost falling to be borne will be about £700,000.
The net position accordingly is that by reason of the arbitration award, and the consequential revisions in the pay and allowances of the Defence Forces and of the Garda Síochána which it involves, an additional expenditure of almost £2,400,000 must be incurred in this financial year. I should say that this charge did not appear amongst the commitments mentioned in the Budget in explanation of the allowance of £1,500,000 for expenditure which had not been provided for: this allowance, in fact, was described as "already fully committed".