asked the Minister for Lands the overtime rate, by reference to time rates, in respect of overtime on (a) Monday to Friday inclusive, (b) Saturdays, (c) Sundays, (d) public holidays applicable to employees of his Department in (i) rural areas and (ii) Dublin county.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Lands Overtime Rates.
121.
Overtime rates in the case of Forestry and Land Commission workers in rural areas and Dublin county are reckoned as follows:
(a) Monday to Friday: Time rate increased by a quarter.
(b) Saturdays: Time rate increased by a quarter.
(c) Sundays: Overtime on Sundays by Forestry workers is normally on fire patrols and the rate applicable is time rate increased by three-eighths. Where, exceptionally, overtime is worked by Land Commission workers on a Sunday the rate payable is double the time rate.
(d) Public Holidays: A worker who qualifies for a public holiday but works on that day is paid two days' pay.
In view of the fact that some of the other Departments employing labourers are at present paying time and a half and that even in his own Department tradesmen are paid time and a half for Saturday after the first two hours, surely it should be possible to bring the employees of the Department of Lands into line with the others? Will the Minister have that matter looked into because it is a burning question?
I have given the Deputy the reply to the question. At the moment I cannot comment further on it.
The Minister has given me the exact details that I have asked for but because of the fact that at the present time there is quite a to-do in State employment over this issue, would the Minister not agree that it should be possible to bring his Department into line with what other Departments are doing and will he cease the practice of trying to differentiate between tradesmen and labourers with regard to the rate of overtime they are being paid?