asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that certain officers in the Civil Service have their salaries differentiated on a marriage basis, while others have their salaries differentiated on a sex basis; if he is further aware that officers whose salaries are differentiated on a sex basis do not, on marriage, become entitled to the payment of children's allowances; and whether, with a view to removing this anomaly, he will cause children's allowances to be paid, from a current date, to all married officers in the Civil Service, irrespective of the basis on which their salaries are differentiated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salaries of Married Civil Servants.
I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. Children's allowances in the Civil Service are essentially linked with the differentiation between the salaries of married and single men, officers while unmarried contributing by working for lower salaries to the cost of the allowances to which they will be entitled if they marry and have children. There is no anomaly in the fact that these allowances are not paid to officers whose salaries are not differentiated on a marriage basis and who make no contribution to the cost. I do not propose to alter the basis of payment for the grant of children's allowances.