asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction among the lower grades of the Civil Service, such as the clerk-typist grade, concerning their inadequate rates of pay; whether it is correct that clerk-typists are directed to perform duties of a character formerly performed by higher grades in receipt of much higher pay; whether the performance by them of such higher duties carries a reward by way of increased pay, and, if so, of what amount; whether he is aware that many of those recruited to the grade come from provincial areas and, owing to the inadequacy of the pay offered in relation to living costs, often have to be subsidised by their parents so as to avoid dangers to health; and whether in all the circumstances he proposes to increase scales of pay substantially to take account both of the character of the duties and present living costs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Clerk-Typist Pay Scales.
Matters affecting the grades to which the Deputy refers are appropriate to be dealt with under the conciliation and arbitration machinery for the Civil Service.
Following an agreed recommendation made last September by the General Council under that machinery, an adjustment of clerk-typists' pay was effected as from 1st November, 1961. In consequence of the pay settlement recently recommended by the Council, a further increase of 12 per cent was granted as from 1st February, 1964. There is no claim concerning the grade before the Council at present and I am not aware of the allegations mentioned by the Deputy.
The grade of clerk-typist came into existence on 1st July, 1960, following an agreed recommendation of the General Council which set out not merely the pay but the range of duties attaching to the grade. Details are set out in the relevant Department of Finance circular, a copy of which I have had placed in the Library.
Arising out of that part of the reply in which the Minister said he was not aware of the allegations mentioned by the Deputy, is the Minister not aware of the fact that all of those lower paid civil servants must have a secondary education and must pass a proficiency test in Irish and are offered a sum of £5 10s per week as a starting salary? Will the Minister tell me frankly: does he consider that a salary of £5 10s per week at this stage is a living wage to a young girl who comes up from the provinces to live in Dublin?
All I can say is that these grades have been fixed in agreement with the Official Side and the Staff Side, not merely as to the scale of salaries but also as to the duties allocated to them and it is always open to the Staff Side to ask for further conciliation and arbitration.
I would ask the Minister to answer the question I put to him. He said he was not aware of the allegations mentioned by the Deputy. Is the Minister aware that many of the young girls who are clerk-typists in the Civil Service are subsidised by their parents, who have to pay at least £1 per week to them to enable them to feed themselves in this city, and does the Minister think that in these circumstances this is merely a question of arbitration? Does he not realise that the question of the livelihood of these girls is involved and will he, as the responsible Minister, set the good example and see that a living wage is paid to these girls? Will the Minister answer that?
The Deputy, of course, takes one particular figure, which is a very unusual figure, that is, that if a girl comes in under 18 years of age, she is paid £5 10s 4d. When she reaches her eighteenth birthday, that goes to £5 17s 6d. There are very few girls who come in under 18 years of age. It would not matter very much to the Exchequer if that figure of under 18 years pay were done away with. I do not like to take the initiative in these matters if the Staff Side do not come along and ask for some discussion.
If an approach is made to the Minister by the Staff Side who act on behalf of these girls, may I take it that the Minister will be most sympathetic to their request in this regard?
The Staff Side know all about that. I do not think the Deputy need advise them.
The Minister has said that not many of these girls come in under 18 years of age. The figure involved over 18 is £5 17s. 6d.—is that right?
That is right.
Surely the Minister does not consider that a rise from £5 10s. to £5 17s. 6d. will mean the difference between frugal comfort and a decent standard of living? Is he serious in suggesting that that is sufficient increase, that because a girl is over 18 years of age she gets 7/6d. a week more? It is absolutely disgraceful.