asked the Minister for Health why female employees of the Waterford Board of Assistance engaged as hospital attendants on the same type and amount of work have received increases of 7/6 per week if over 21 years and of only 5/- per week if under 21 years.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Waterford Hospital: Attendants' Wages.
Increases of 7/6 and 5/- a week, respectively, for female adult and juvenile employees were part of the agreed recommendations made under the arrangements for conciliation and arbitration for the Civil Service. The agreed recommendations were adopted in relation to State employees generally and have been applied to local authority staffs, for whom I am the appropriate Minister and who are not covered by specific decisions arrived at as a result of negotiation under other established procedures.
Does the Minister not consider that when the same conditions apply to, and the same work is carried out by people under 21 and people over 21, that decision to reduce the amount payable as a cost-of-living bonus is unfair?
I do not think so.