asked the Minister for Education if, with reference to a recent Electricity Supply Board advertisement for vacancies for laboratory assistants in which a salary scale of up to £996 per annum is offered to persons holding a leaving certificate with honours in mathematics or a science subject while a salary of up to £1,259 is offered to persons with GCE "O" level examinations in mathematics, chemistry and physics, he is aware of the serious concern which is being caused in educational circles by reason of the fact that a State-sponsored body offers a higher salary to candidates with British educational qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Advertisement for Laboratory Assistants.
12.
Mr. Ryan
It is a matter for regret that the advertisement concerned was open to misunderstanding. The misunderstanding arises apparently from the compressed form of the advertisement which appeared in the public press. The actual position is as follows: The GCE is not an entrance qualification for the post. The sole entrance qualification accepted by the Electricity Supply Board is the Leaving Certificate, with honours in any one of the subjects mathematics, chemistry, physics or general science.
If a successful applicant in addition to the basic qualifications has passed the Leaving Certificate examination in two of the subjects specified for the higher maximum he automatically proceeds to that maximum. It is only in the case of a candidate who has not obtained such passes in the Leaving Certificate that the lower standard of passes at the GCE "O" level is accepted.
Mr. Ryan
Could the Minister say whether the ESB will re-advertise the post and make the position clear?
The Deputy might have addressed that question to the Minister for Transport and Power.
Mr. Ryan
I did but I got no satisfaction.
I said I would look into the matter.
By the time they have looked into the matter of the school at Cong and the GCE certificate in the ESB, the candidates will all have whiskers.