asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware that hundreds of members of a group of 17 building trade unions were employed by the Office of Public Works as maintenance men; that they were promised direct employment; and that they were told that they must wait another year for it; if such workers are to be provided with a pension scheme and other benefits; why a decision was not made during the current financial year to meet the promise to the trade unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Board of Works Maintenance Men.
83.
The Commissioners of Public Works employ approximately 350 men on the maintenance of public buildings in Dublin of whom about 50 are directly employed by the Commissioners. The others are employed under annual contracts with commercial firms.
All the building trade workers now have sick leave and pension or superannuation benefits — under State schemes for those directly employed and under schemes sponsored by the building industry for those employed through contractors.
The question of taking all the men into direct employment has been under consideration. As the present arrangement has existed since at least the beginning of the century, I considered it desirable to have all implications fully examined before a change would be made. This examination has not yet been completed.
Does that cover the category known as the quasi-permanent staff? Are they covered by the pension scheme?
People who are employed by the contractors are covered by the outside building employers' pension scheme, the one operated by the Federation.
I mean the people who are called quasi-permanent staff. Are they covered by the pension scheme?
In so far as they are employed directly by the Board of Works, they are covered by the Board of Works scheme. In so far as they are employed by the outside contractors they are covered by the scheme operated by the Builders' Federation.