asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has received representations recently on behalf of gardeners and garden labourers employed at the Botanic Gardens, Dublin, requesting increases on their present rates of wages; if so, whether he is prepared to accede to such representations; and, further, if he will indicate the basis of fixation of the rates of wages of such employees.
Written Answers. - Botanic Gardens Employees.
Representations of the kind referred to have been received in my Department and a reply to these representations has been sent to the effect that, in accordance with general policy, increases in basic wages are limited to the payment of such emergency bonus as may be authorised by the Minister for Finance. Emergency bonus at the authorised rates is being paid to the gardeners and the garden labourers in the Botanic Gardens.
The rates of wages of employees at the Botanic Gardens, as well as the rates of wages of similar classes of employees generally in the Government service, were reviewed periodically by an Inter-Departmental Wages Advisory Committee which reported to the Minister for Finance. In view of the stabilising of wages and salaries and the granting of emergency bonus, the functions of that body have been suspended for the present.