Vol. 443 No. 6
8 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, he has for the establishment of a new low paid position of trainee clerical assistant within the Civil Service; his views on whether £135 per week is an adequate starting rate for such positions; if his attention has been drawn to concern expressed by public service unions at this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As envisaged in the pay agreement which forms part of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, discussions are proceeding with the Civil Service unions on the restructuring of various Civil Service grades. In most cases the discussions cover a range of issues such as the need for greater efficiency and effectiveness, flexibility in working arrangements, enhanced arrangements for long-serving staff and future recruitment arrangements, including the possibility of trainee appointments.
This type of package has been under discussion with the Civil and Public Service Union, under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the Civil Service, in respect of the grades it presents. These are mainly the grades of clerical assistant, clerical officer and staff officer. As there are ongoing discussions on many aspects of the package it would not be appropriate for me to comment on what is or is not likely to emerge on any particular aspect.
I emphasise in respect of these discussions, and others, that from the Government's point of view any package which is agreed will have to stand up, not only in terms of what it contains but also in terms of cost. In relation to the latter, the implementation of any agreement will have to conform with the tight cost parameters of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work pay agreement as it applies to the public service.
Are we effectively talking about a new grade in the Civil Service? Could the Minister put a figure on the number of prospective employees if negotiations with the unions are successful? There is a prospect of considerably more employment if this proposal is accepted than otherwise might be the case? What is his view on the public statements made by unions which cater for staff in the existing grades?
I am not too sure it would make a substantial difference on employment in the overall context. Deputy McManus may believe that the establishment of an introductory grade is a way of changing the structure and introducing a grade on lower remuneration — that was one of the proposals on the table — but it is not the reason we are proceeding with it. Deputy Rabbitte is very familiar with the CPSU trade union long standing argument on clerical assistants' pay where large numbers of typists get left at that level. There is a proposal to amalgamate the clerical assistant and clerical officer grades and as part of that package it is proposed to establish an introductory grade. I have not been involved in the discussions as yet, but it is proposed that a person would enter an introductory grade and after three years would move automatically to the next step in the amalgamated clerical assistant-clerical officer grade. It seems a sensible way to deal with an age old problem. These discussions concern not only the lower grades but management grades also. We are trying to deal with the situation created by the lack of promotional opportunities since the mid-1970s. The discussions are ongoing but I am anxious that they be completed this year.
Is the Minister aware of the impact of the Programme for National Recovery and the Programme for Economic and Social Progress on the highest and the lowest grades in the Civil Service? Secretaries of Departments have received an increase of 101 per cent whereas clerical assistants have received an increase of 36 per cent? There is a real problem for those on low pay. Would he consider looking at the incremental scale of clerical assistant and clerical officer grades as staff with long service in these grades are in a promotional cul de sac? I have been told by the CPSU that the amount involved is very small — in the region of £7 million — and this would do a great deal for staff morale, without having a knock-on effect.
I am not against the concept. A great many staff entered the Civil Service at that level in the mid-1970s and have been frozen in their grade; with limited opportunities of promotion to the lower executive grade they could remain in that grade. Part of the ongoing discussions is to try to address CPSU's concerns on this issue. We hear a great many arguments about pay in the Civil Service but as Minister I have to defend our stand because it is the numerical strength rather than the level of pay that creates the wage bill.
