Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Wildlife Service.

Joe Higgins

Question:

449 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the salary of the additional rangers to be recruited on three year appointments as outlined in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 321 on 9 March, 1999; her views on whether this level of payment is sufficient to reflect the responsibility of these rangers to implement her Department's wildlife conservation policies and adequate to fortify the morale of this service. [9862/99]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

Additional rangers who are to be appointed on three year contracts will be placed on the salary scale for rangers as follows:

On appointment £213.35 per week, inclusive of £25.20 per week for unsocial hours. On completion of two years satisfactory service this will increase to £259.81 per week.

The levels of pay for civil servants are set by the Department of Finance and my Department is governed by the usual rules which apply to starting pay in the Civil Service generally.