asked the Minister for Lands whether paymasters, stock managers, supervising gangers and gangers in the employment of the Land Commission are classed as civil servants, and, if so, whether they are granted the usual privileges of civil servants, viz., pension rights, sick leave with pay, and annual leave with pay; further, if they are not so classed, why they are not allowed to make indirect representations to his Department in connection with their grievances.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Land Commission Employees.
These employees are not permanent civil servants, within the terms of the Superannuation Acts, or the Civil Service Regulation Acts. Their employment does not carry the same privileges as the employment of permanent civil servants. The regulations regarding indirect representations apply generally to temporary civil servants as well as to permanent civil servants, and the position of the employees in question is no exception to the general rule. All representations made on their behalf through the normal Civil Service channels, receive full consideration.
Can the Minister give the House any good reason why these men—many of whom have given up to 30 years' service in working for the State and been saddled with very heavy responsibility in regard to the administration of large sums of money in the matter of building construction and the making of roads on behalf of the Land Commission—are precluded from pension rights and from the normal facilities that are given to permanent civil servants in view of the fact that they have often trained many of the permanent inspectors within the Department itself?
That is not the case solely with the staff of the Land Commission.
I know it is not.
It is the same with the staff all round.
In view of the very heavy responsibilities they have and the fact that they have given such loyal service, surely it is not unfair to request any Minister who has the responsibility of the Department of Lands to ensure that men who have given 30 years' faithful service and who have had responsibility for the spending of tremendously large sums of money and who have spent them efficiently and well would be given pension rights at the end of their days?
Yes, it would be desirable.
Can the Minister give any hope that they would be given?
No, I could not hold out the hope.