asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will ensure that the present grading differential in favour of land project supervisors as agricultural officers grade VI will be maintained in the new grading structure now being proposed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Officers.
83.
Proceedings have been in train at my Department's conciliation council under the concilation and arbitration agreement for the civil service on a claim by the staff side for a substantial reduction in the present number of eight grades of agricultural officer. Settlement of the claim will be by agreement between the staff side and the official side of the council. Such a reduction in the number of grades would, of course, necessarily alter the previous relativities of individual groups of officers. Certain groups would benefit somewhat from this but the salaries of any other group would not be adversely affected and this position would apply to the land project supervisors, grade VI. The relativities of any individual groups of officers are, of course, subject to variation from time to time according to variation in circumstances.
Would the Minister not agree that the present differential should be maintained in favour of this group as a matter of equity having regard to the fact that the work which they carry out is comparatively skilled and is generally much more onerous than the work performed by other inspectors of the Department?
I would prefer not to comment on this because the matter is under examination at present and I should not like to prejudice that examination by any comment.
Would the Minister bear in mind that there is a difference in the type of work?
All the relevant factors will be borne in mind.