Paul McGrath
Question:212 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there is a prohibition on employees of his Department becoming elected members of local authorities. [12160/03]
Written Answers. - Local Authority Membership.
Department of Finance circular 7/99 details the rules governing civil servants as candidates for local authority elections. The position is as follows. State industrial employees and civil servants in manipulative, sub-clerical and manual grades may stand for election to local authorities. Civil servants of the clerical classes and of non-manipulative and sub-professional classes in similar salary ranges may stand as candidates at local elections subject to the condition that the Minister for Finance may, on the recommendation of the Minister in charge of a particular Department, declare that officers engaged in a particular category of work may not stand. All other civil servants remain completely barred from standing for election. However, this rule shall not apply to a civil servant who holds a position which after 17 May 1974 has been upgraded through the general restructuring of his or her grade and as a result of which such upgraded position carries a salary maximum above that of a clerical officer. The above rules do not apply to personal assistants and special advisers in the Minister's offices.