asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the recent increase that was given to Social Welfare agents; and at what date the previous increase was granted.
39.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salaries of Social Welfare Agents.
38.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the claim of National Health Insurance agents for an increase in their salaries.
40.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that unestablished officers of his Department have not received a pay increase since 1934; and if he considers that a twelve per cent. increase in their salaries is sufficient to ensure fair treatment.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 39 and 40 together.
A claim for an increase in salary in respect of unestablished Local Agents was recently discussed at a meeting of the Departmental Council in my Department under the Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for the Civil Service. That Scheme provides that the proceedings at the Council must remain confidential until a decision has been reached on any particular claim. A decision on the particular claim here in question has not yet been reached, and until it has, I am precluded by the terms of the scheme from making any comment on it.
Unestablished local agents last received a pay increase on the 15th December 1959, when a pay increase was given to the whole Civil Service. There are no officers in my Department who have not received a pay increase since 1934.