asked the Minister for Education why his Department refused to sanction the increase granted to the caretakers of vocational schools in County Laois by the Laois Vocational Education Committee at its meeting on 18th December 1961, an increase which was comparable with that given to workers of a similar type in the area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Vocational School Caretakers.
98.
No question of having to apply to my Department for specific sanction for the increase concerned arose and, accordingly, there could be no question of such sanction having been refused.
Vocational Education Committees have a general sanction, under a circular issued by my Department in July, 1951, to vary the wages of their servants, including caretakers.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, I propose to circulate with this reply the text of the section of the general sanction concerned which relates to caretakers.
Following is the text:
Caretakers
(3) Where there is no local employment of an exactly similar kind (for example, caretakers of schools) Committees should be guided by the nature and extent of the duties of the post, making due allowance for such work as care of a school garden etc. The rates paid should, however, in rural areas be related to those paid to agricultural workers and in urban areas to the rates paid to workers in corresponding employment.