Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Minimum Wage.

Nora Owen

Question:

98 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the impact, if any, the payment of the national minimum wage will have on her Department; the number of staff working for her Department or any agency associated with her Department who will need to receive an increased wage as a result of its introduction; the full cost of its introduction in her Department; the sectors and persons and categories of employees who will be receiving it when it is introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7155/00]

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

Four employees in Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, are paid by reference to agriculture wages sector rates of pay which are currently below the, proposed, national minimum wage level. I understand these rates will be subject to appropriate review by the agricultural workers joint labour committee, which operates under the aegis of the Labour Court.

The pay of the four individuals concerned will either be revised by reference to this review process, or under a separate process. The additional costs involved will be negligible.