I am aware of the claim made by the officer in County Kilkenny VEC for the payment of enhanced allowances in respect of acting-up duties.
The rates of substitution and acting-up allowances are determined by agreement reached at the Conciliation Council established for VEC clerical and administrative staff and are then circulated to committees. An application for the payment of an enhanced allowance was received from County Kilkenny VEC in respect of a person who was acting up to a higher grade. My Department gave sanction for the payment of an acting up allowance in accordance with the agreed rates.
Representations were received to have a higher allowance paid and a case in County Wicklow VEC was cited in support of the claim. Following consideration of the circumstances of the case referred to, my Department decided that the payment agreed in that case did not have due regard for the agreed terms governing such payments and consequently, my Department did not accept that it constituted a precedent for the sector as a whole. Accordingly, sanction for a higher allowance was refused. The payment agreed in County Wicklow is no longer in payment.
