asked the Minister for Lands the rates of pay of (a) inspectors and (b) all clerks employed by the various boards of conservators in the country; and if full-time employees of the boards of conservators who are employed on a seven-day per week basis are entitled to one day per week off without loss of pay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Boards of Conservators: Wages and Conditions of Employees.
43.
The rates of pay of inspectors and clerks employed by Boards of Conservators in the year ended 30th September, 1961, are given in a tabular statement which, with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report. Some of these employees are part-time.
The question of time off for full-time employees is a matter between themselves and their employers.
Following is the statement:—
ANNUAL PAY OR SCALE OF PAY
|
Board of Conservators |
Inspector or Clerk/Inspector |
Clerk |
|
£ |
£ |
|
|
Dublin |
350×25-500 |
— |
|
Wexford |
425 |
225 |
|
Waterford |
450×25-600 |
276 |
|
Lismore |
450×20-600 |
426 |
|
Cork |
450×20-600 |
300×20-340 |
|
Kerry |
442 |
312 |
|
Limerick |
625 |
455×20-535×15 -550×20-650 |
|
Galway |
450×25-650 |
— |
|
Connemara |
235 |
— |
|
Ballinakill |
300×20-400 |
— |
|
Bangor |
470 |
— |
|
Ballina |
375×25-500 |
150 |
|
Sligo |
300 |
100 |
|
Ballyshannon |
325×20-425 |
172 |
|
Letterkenny |
250 |
200 |
|
Drogheda |
426 |
156 |
|
Dundalk |
300×20-400 |
— |
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say whether or not there is a statutory regulation affecting the employees of boards of conservators and, if so, is it not the function of his Department to see the law is not broken in this regard?
The only relative statutory regulation is under Section 40 (2) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959, under which every appointment, salary, allowance and tenure of office shall be subject to the approval of the Minister. There is no provision for Ministerial approval of conditions of employment, which is a matter for the individual boards of conservators themselves.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether or not there is a legal responsibility on the boards of conservators, who are subject to his Department, to obey the law with regard to conditions of employment?
My only function is in regard to the appointment and to the salary. Conditions, as I have stated, are matters for the individual boards themselves. There are 17 such boards in the country.
Is it not a fact that the Minister has the right of veto over any board which proposes an increase in salary to its employees?
He has in regard to salaries. The distinction is that under that section the Minister has a function in regard to the appointment and salary but has no function under that or any other regulation in regard to conditions, such as time off or days off.
Does the Minister not refuse to sanction the increases?