asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to substantially increase the basic salary of clerical officers who were temporary clerical assistants in order to bring their salaries in line with those paid to other clerical officers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salaries of Clerical Officers.
13.
Mr. Ryan
Those clerical officers who were previously employed in a temporary clerical capacity have the same scales of pay as other clerical officers. On appointment as clerical officers, their points of entry to these scales were fixed under the general rules governing this type of promotion.
Mr. Ryan
Is it not the position in fact that while they may ultimately arrive at that point, it takes them many more years to reach their maximum, whereas those fortunate enough to be taken on as permanent officers arrive at that maximum perhaps even ten or 15 years earlier? They are, in fact, doing the same type of work.
That is not correct.
Mr. Ryan
Is it not possible, for instance, that a man who has about 15 years' total service but who was for a while a temporary clerical assistant, is earning perhaps £10 per week, while a man could have joined the Service on the same day as a clerical officer and be earning £15 per week? How can this discrepancy be justified?
The figures quoted by the Deputy are not correct. If he puts down a question in more detail, I shall give a more specific answer.