John Browne
Question:26 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the dissatisfaction of environmental health officers with their pay structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5352/95]
Written Answers. - Environmental Health Officers' Dispute.
, Limerick East): The environmental health officers pay claim was given detailed consideration by the Arbitration Board which rejected the basis on which the claim had been made. Under the terms of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, the environmental health officers were precluded from lodging a further claim as they had processed a claim under clause 3 of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress to a conclusion.
Environmental health officers conducted a ballot of their union branches on the issue of industrial action. This ballot resulted in a vote for industrial action which commenced on Monday, 27 March 1995.
A series of meetings have taken place, in recent days, between management and the environmental health officers' union, IMPACT, under the auspices of the Local Government Staff Negotiations Board, with a view to resolving the present impasse. I am precluded from making any further comment on this matter as it is being dealt with under the standard industrial relations channels.