asked the Minister for Local Government if he is prepared to consider allowing people with town planning experience to enter the service of local authorities at a point on the salary scale above the minimum and commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the appointees.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Town Planning Appointments.
9.
The commencing salary for appointments in the local authority service is the minimum of the appropriate salary scale. That condition is of general application and no change in it is contemplated,
As I indicated, however, to city and county managers by letter of 4th October, 1953, I recognise that the acquisition of a town planning qualification merits some special consideration. I am prepared to consider any proposal to pay an allowance to an officer of a local authority who acquires recognised town planning qualifications in addition to his basic professional qualification, where such an officer is specifically employed on planning work.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the extreme difficulty in getting town planning personnel at present? Is he aware that the Department of Local Government have taken all the experienced town planners into their own inspectorial staff? In order to make up this deficiency, will he allow planning authorities to bring in people at the appropriate scale in order to attract them back from England? The position is chaotic in Dublin at present.
The local authorities are in a position to pay, provided these people have the qualifications.
It is because they are not in a position to do so that they cannot get them.
Where are they going to store all the files in relation to town planning applications in a few years time?
There is nothing about files in the question.
They will have to build a special building in Donegal.