asked the Minister for Health whether he will indicate if a request has been forwarded to his Department by the county manager, Cork County Council, for the sanction of a wage increase of 12/6 weekly for male and 9/6 weekly for female employees of the South Cork Board of Public Assistance; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Proposed Wage Increase for Cork Council Employees.
I have received proposals from the public assistance authority to grant wage increases of 12/6 and 9/6 weekly to certain of the board's male and female employees. I have informed the board that, pending further consideration, increases of 9/-per week in respect of adult male employees and 6/- per week in respect of adult female employees might be paid, retrospective to 1st October last. I am not prepared to authorise any greater increase at present but, as I have told the local authority, the matter is under consideration.
In view of the fact that this request from the manager of the Cork County Council has the unanimous backing of all the members of that board who in their wisdom provided the necessary moneys to meet the increase, is the Minister still satisfied to say that he is not prepared to give the wage increases of 12/6 and 9/6 per week?
The members of the board are only willing to provide half the money. I have to provide the other half.
The 100 per cent. recoupment grant is reduced by 50 per members of the board in their wisdomprovided the money as requested by the manager. Is the Minister satisfied to say that these employees will not get the 12/6 and the 9/6 increase per week?
It requires further concent., as the Minister knows. The sideration.