asked the Minister for Local Government if he will sanction the employment of private engineers on a fee basis to survey and process schemes submitted to county councils under rural improvement schemes in counties where present engineering staff is not adequate to deal with them.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Improvement Schemes.
42.
There are no proposals before my Department to engage private engineers for this work nor do I envisage this as a suitable arrangement.
(Cavan): Apparently difficulty is being experienced in many counties with regard to implementing this scheme because of the difficulty of getting engineers. Is it not a fact that the Minister had proposals before him to authorise the payment of extra time or over-time to engineers who carried out this work? Would the Minister consider that as an alternative to Deputy Dr. Gibbons' proposal if it is put before him?
In local authority areas where members of engineering and clerical staff engaged in this work were paid extra fees the making of such payment to them has been authorised.
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that this is not a question of clerical assistants; it is a question of engineers?
Yes — engineers and clerical staff.
(Cavan): And the Minister will continue to sanction such payment?
Yes.