asked the Minister for Finance why the drivers employed on arterial drainage have not yet been paid the 11th round wage increase; and if an offer will soon be made.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wage Increase for Drainage Workers.
3.
The rates of pay for drivers and certain other categories of drainage workers are at present being reviewed. The review will be completed shortly and an offer will then be made.
In view of the fact that all other similar type employees in the State have for months past been enjoying the benefit of the 11th round, could the Parliamentary Secretary say why the Department of Finance have not found it possible to deal with the drivers employed on arterial drainage?
The Deputy will be aware, I am sure, that this question was settled in relation to ordinary drainage workers only in August and it is on the ordinary drainage workers' settlement that the proposed review will be based.
I do not want to draw that matter up, but since the Parliamentary Secretary has mentioned it I think it is disgraceful that it took until August to make an offer to the drainage workers. Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the offer to the drainage workers has nothing whatever to do with the proposed offer to the drivers, that their wages are on an entirely different basis?
But wages and rates are inter-related, and the Deputy is not right in saying the first offer was made in August. It was made long before that but was not accepted. Agreement was not reached until August.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the reason given by his officials for the failure to make an offer to the drivers is that they are deciding on the relation to outside employment to which they say the drivers' rate is tied?
Question No. 4.