With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together.
The only claims awaiting decision under the Garda Síochána Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme are (a) a claim for improved pensions for widows of deceased members, and (b) pay claims on behalf of (i) Chief Superintendents and Superintendents, (ii) Inspectors, Station Sergeants and Sergeants, and (iii) Gardaí.
The claim for improved widows' pensions was received on the 29th April, 1961. It was discussed at a meeting of the Conciliation Council on 24th October, 1961, when consideration of it was adjourned. The Official Side intimated its willingness to discuss the claim further at a meeting fixed for 30th October, 1962, but it was then ascertained that the Garda side was not then in a position to discuss it. Since that date it has been open to the Garda side to have the claim placed on the agenda for a meeting of the Council.
Particulars of the three Garda pay claims, the cost of which, if conceded, would amount to approximately £1,600,000 per annum, are as follows:
The claim on behalf of Chief Superintendents and Superintendents is, in the case of Chief Superintendents, for a new salary scale of £2,070 at the minimum to £2,510 at the maximum instead of the present scale of £1,620 (minimum) to £1,960 (maximum); and, in the case of Superintendents, for a new salary scale of £1,475 at the minimum to £1,885 at the maximum, instead of the present scale of £1,125 (minimum) to £1,535 (maximum). This claim was received on 25th September last and was discussed at a meeting of the Conciliation Council on 30th October when disagreement was recorded. Since that date it has been open to the Garda side to submit the claim for consideration by the Arbitration Board.
The pay claim by the inspectors, station sergeants and sergeants, is for new salary scales as follows :
Inspectors—£1,380 (minimum) to £1,530 (maximum). The present scale is £920 (minimum) to £1,020 (maximum).
Station Sergeants—£1,250 (minimum) to £1,310 (maximum). The present scale is £834 to £873.
Sergeant (man)—£1,150 (minimum) to £1,230 (maximum). The present scale is £769 to £821.
Sergeant (woman)— £990 (minimum) to £1,070 (maximum). The present scale is £657 to £709.
This claim was received on the 16th of last month and will be discussed at a meeting of the Conciliation Council which has been provisionally arranged for the 26th of this month.
The pay claim on behalf of Gardaí is as follows:
Garda (man)—£10 (minimum) to £18 10s. a week (maximum). The present scale is £8 15s. to £14 a week.
Garda (woman)—£8 15s. a week (minimum) to £16 a week (maximum). The present scale is £7 12s. 6d. to £12 3s. a week.
This claim was received on the 10th of last month and will be discussed at a meeting of the Conciliation Council which has been arranged for the 19th of this month.
For obvious reasons, I am unable to say when decisions will be reached on these claims. There will, however, so far as Government Departments are concerned, be no avoidable delay on their part. I cannot anticipate what the outcome of the Conciliation and Arbitration proceedings will be.
64.
